HUGH, Pugh, man from Blackpool, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub.

Fans of Trumpton will remember the original cry, and this week David Bonney, from Blackpool, pictured, was taken back to his childhood to realise his dream of being a firefighter.

A national competition run by Werther's Original sweets offered lucky winners the chance to live out their childhood dream, and David's wife Pat sent in an entry without him even knowing.

David, who works at British Nuclear Fuel at Salwick, Preston, told The Citizen he had applied for a job as a firefighter in 1974, but was refused due to a medical condition.

He said: "It was always my ambition to be a firefighter and it took quite a while to believe it was never going to happen.

"So when I won the competition it was like a dream come true."

On Monday (June 19) he had his day at Blackpool Fire Service headquarters at Forest Gate, where he was given a tour followed by a physical training session and a fire safety lecture.

"We did a drill, in which they sent me up a ladder like the real thing, then the fun really started.

"They let me destroy a car with top of the range cutting equipment. The gear they've got is so professional, its amazing.

"I have nothing but admiration for that bunch and being with them was the icing on the cake. It was a fantastic day."