SOUTHEND'S mayor and a group of willing helpers tried their hands at firefighter training to raise cash for charity.

Ann Holland and her team scaled the training tower at Hawkwell fire station and learned how to use a hose, lift ladders and lower dummy bodies.

It was all part of a day’s training based on to sessions undertaken by youngsters on the Essex Fire and Rescue Service Firebreak youth scheme.

Mrs Holland took on the sponsored challenge, having spent more than a decade as vice-chairman of the Essex Fire Authority, During that time, she has watched numerous teenagers complete the Firebreak course, and quite fancied having a go herself.

She explained: “I’d watched all the youngsters do this, but it was the first time I’d done it myself. I didn’t realise quite what hard work it would be.

“It was challenging and exhausting, but I really enjoyed it. It was really good working as a team.”

She was joined in the challenge by last year’s Southend deputy youth mayor, Alex Bright, Linda Boar, who is personal assistant to Essex chief fire officer, mayor’s charity committee member Paul Sayer, Matthew Locker, owner of the Sand Bar restaurant, Leigh, and South Benfleet county councillor Colin Riley, who is also a fire authority member.

Specialist firefighter trainers gave their time for free to put the team through its paces on Monday and Tuesday. The event ended with a passing-out parade to mark the fundraisers’ completion of the course.

The team raised more than £1,000 through sponsorship for Mrs Holland’s three mayoral charities, Southend Stroke Club, Southend Arts Council, and Southend Association of Voluntary Service’s disability charity, the Village.