GERMAN firefighting volunteers are visiting Leigh Fire Station to compare techniques.

A group of eight from the village of Anroechte, visit the Leigh station this week to observe drills and to look at equipment and facilities.

Before their arrival Leigh Firefighter Dave Vickers said: "On the day White watch will do some drills and they will be shown equipment we have."

Both groups of firefighters will exchange information and learn about equipment used by their counterparts.

The German group decided to visit because the Leigh station is relatively new and one of the party, Craig MacLachlan, has family in the area.

Craig spent 23 years serving in the Forces in Germany. When he left the army two years ago he stated work for a local German company. A year ago he joined the volunteers.

While Anroechte has a population of more than 7,000, the firefighters are also responsible for nine other villages in their area which covers 7,377 sq km and with a total population of 11461. The Lippstadt -- Paderborn Airport is included in their area.

The voluntary fire brigade meets every Wednesday evening to practice and runs courses for its firefighters. They also attend specialised courses at the training schools in Essen or Munster.

After the trip Leigh could be hitting the headlines in Germany as one of the group is a newspaper journalist and will be doing a write-up of the visit.

During their trip to England, the party will also visit a training centre and working fire station at Thompson Street, Manchester, to observe new recruits being put through their paces.

Firefighter Vickers added: "It is going to be quite interesting for them. Hopefully it will be a good exchange."