A FIRE crew was "ambushed" by women revellers who mistook them for a team of hunky nightclub promotional workers.

Now brigade bosses have issued a safety warning amid fears that girls with a soft spot for men in uniform could cause an accident.

The incident occured after bosses at the Heaven and Hell club in Blackburn town centre sent out a team of male models in full firefighting gear to drive women to and from the venue in an old fire engine.

But members of the local station's Red Watch were caught up in the excitement as women jumped aboard their engine and demanded the driver took take them to the club as they tried to answer a non-emergency call.

Press officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue John Taylor said: "Firefighters are in general very affable characters and this was just a bit of fun. We do recognise that there is this phenomena of women being attracted to firemen, but we are really trying to get away from the stereotypical image.

"There is serious message to this as these men have a serious job to do and were on duty at the time."

Apart from the slogan "Blazing Squad - hop aboard for a fireman's lift", the nightclub's engine looks identical to those used by Lancashire firefighters.

Andy Appleton, manager of Heaven and Hell, Blackburn, said: "Everyone has a soft spot for firemen and for fire engines. Basically that is why we arranged for it to come up, as a bit of fun and because firemen are often the object of women's desires.

"So instead of women having to walk to the club, in what was shocking weather, we went out, accosted them and brought them to Heaven and Hell, on board the fire engine, which they just absolutely loved.

"The response it got was fantastic."

Andy said that just when he thought the evening had been a great success, he received a call from the station officer at Blackburn. He added: "When he rang up I thought we were going to get into trouble.

"Apparently they were pestered by women all night."

The fire engine is going to be a regular feature at the club so Andy has warned Blackburn's firefighters to be prepared for another onslaught of women.

He added: "We can also get an ambulance with a full crew of pretend paramedics so I had better warn them as well."