Sandy’s fire cadets are officially the best in Bedfordshire after they came up trumps in a contest testing numerous skills.

The Comet: Sandy fire cadets winners with chief fire officer Paul Fuller. Picture: Beds Fire and RescueSandy fire cadets winners with chief fire officer Paul Fuller. Picture: Beds Fire and Rescue (Image: Archant)

Jade Allaway, Jess Fountain, Kieran Stevenson, Ben Watson and Reuben Matheron represented Sandy Community Fire Station in the four-way contest held in Ampthill.

And with tasks including using a fire hose, linking fire hoses and map-reading, the team from Sandy came out on top.

Some of the activities were chosen as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, as they were skills the cadets needed to practice.

The teams used sponges and bottles with holes in to relay water between buckets, pitched tents, dressed firefighters and mapped out locations of fire engines.

The Comet: Hose connecting during the Beds fire cadets competition. Picture: Beds Fire and RescueHose connecting during the Beds fire cadets competition. Picture: Beds Fire and Rescue (Image: Archant)

Sandy’s cadets won the contest with 33 points, seeing off Kempston with 30 points, Leighton Buzzard with 26 and Luton with 22.

Fire cadets is open to young people aged 13 to 17. The Sandy team meets at the fire station in Ivel Road from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesdays in term time.

If you’re interested in joining, come along on a Wednesday night, call 01582 875213 or send an email to contact@bedsfire.com.

The Comet: Fire cadets with a hosereel during the competition. Picture: Beds Fire and RescueFire cadets with a hosereel during the competition. Picture: Beds Fire and Rescue (Image: Archant)