A SPECIAL British Red Cross vehicle has become a key feature on the firefighting frontline to provide emergency aid to those left homeless by house fires.

For the past nine years, the charity's fire victim support van has operated throughout Greater Manchester to bring practical and emotional support to those forced to leave their homes due to a fire, flood or other incidents.

And on Tuesday the van, manned by specially-trained British Red Cross volunteers, called in to Bury fire station on The Rock to allow officers to familiarise themselves with the service.

Just last month, the specially-adapted vehicle helped a young couple and their baby daughter who were left homeless when fire swept through their home in Goldfinch Drive on Bury's Chesham Fold Estate. Owned by the British Red Cross, the vehicle is maintained by the fire service.

Mr Norman Greenhalgh is one of a number of volunteers who operates the van in Greater Manchester. He said: "When I worked in the fire service a number of years ago, it was common to see those left homeless sitting inside fire engines because there wasn't anywhere else they could go.

"But now, thanks to our fire victim support service, the vehicle acts as a temporary mobile home for them. It is equipped with clothes for adults, children and babies as well as food, including pet food for dogs and cats. Our role is to provide as much immediate assistance and support as we can to those left homeless by fires.

"We have details of hostels and social services organisations in Greater Manchester as well as a telephone which victims of fires can use. And we will also take them to a hostel or to a friend or relative anywhere in Greater Manchester where alternative accommodation is available."

The service operates from 7pm to 7am weekdays and round-the-clock at weekends.

Bury-based leading fireman Gary Wilkinson and his colleagues recognise the important role the British Red Cross vehicle plays in providing emergency aid.

"People are very distressed when they are forced to leave their homes after a fire," he said. "Having this service available to us means that these people can be looked after immediately and allow us, as operational firefighters, to get on and do our job. The van recently helped the family in Goldfinch Drive whose home was uninhabitable after the fire.

"A lot of people may think that the British Red Cross is solely involved in work overseas. But their fire victim support unit is an example of what it does in this country and in Greater Manchester."

Volunteers are needed to man the service, and anyone interested should contact Colin Travis on (0161) 888-8900.