LANCASHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has launched its latest initiative to increase the numbers of women and people from ethnic minorities in its ranks.

The service is running a series of induction courses to give potential recruits a career 'taster'.

The one-week course, trailed this month and then repeated twice in October and once in November, will be held at the Service Training Centre, at Euxton, Chorley, and will focus primarily on the role of firefighter.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Holland said: "There are some great Fire Service traditions concerning the saving of life and the prevention of injury and losses.

"But a tradition we are keen to dispose of is that of a predominantly white male workforce, which is unrepresentative of the diversity of the communities it serves or the gender or sexual orientation of individuals.

"I believe we have done much over recent times to break down internal organisational barriers and there is a genuine desire to harness the talents of people from the target groups."

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