COLLEGE students took time off from the classroom to become firefighters for the day.

Teenagers on the National Diploma in Public Services course at Blackburn College visited a training session at the town's fire station.

The course is designed to prepare students for jobs in the Armed Services, the emergency services, the Prison Service and other security work. Tutor Jackie Keen said: "The students undergo outward bound training with services such as the marine commandos as well as with local services.

"Expedition skills, human behaviour and understanding discipline and authority are core modules of the course and although it's challenging work, the programme's also fun."

Picture: Firefighter Alex Wilson with students, from left, Joanne Jones, Andrew Edmondson, Lee Wilcock, Neil Gibb and Lisa Gaims.