A GRANDMOTHER is at the forefront of a campaign trying to persuade more women to become firefighters. Lorraine Moore, 42, of Downside Gardens, Potton, was chosen by Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service to show women can have a career on the fro

A GRANDMOTHER is at the forefront of a campaign trying to persuade more women to become firefighters.

Lorraine Moore, 42, of Downside Gardens, Potton, was chosen by Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service to show women can have a career on the front line in the emergency service.

A picture of Lorraine, a station manager at county headquarters in Kempston, is now on Government posters urging women to consider a job in the fire service.

"The campaign is all about getting the message across to women that they have a place in the service," said Lorraine, whose husband is an optician.

"When I joined the service as a retained fireman in 1989 at Potton I was one of the first women in the county to join the fire service.

"There is nothing in the fire service a woman can't do so women should not be put off by a career that was once dominated by men.

"I have served on the front line, seen death and trauma, and yes I have rescued a cat from a roof, but I certainly have no regrets about choosing the service as a career."

Lorraine took the first steps into the service when she was a barmaid in Potton and with two small children at home. Firefighters from Potton asked her if she was interested in joining the service.

"It sounded interesting so I applied and got the job," added Lorraine.

"It fitted in with the children and two years later I applied to go full time and I am now a station manager behind a desk but looking forward to getting back to front line duty soon."

County chief fire officer Paul Fuller said: "Firefighting is not a job open only to men. In a modern fire and rescue service we need recruits who are physically and mentally confident.

"Firefighting is a great career opportunity for those women who are fit and active and enjoy a challenge."

MP Angela Smith, the first women to be appointed as minister responsible for fire and rescue, said: "The campaign forms part of a general drive towards greater equality and diversity in the fire and rescue service.