Desperately needed new firefighters will be saving lives across Oxfordshire following a successful recruitment drive.

The first group of new recruits completed their basic training at Didcot Fire Station last week.

The man in charge of keeping the county's retained stations fully staffed said the extra firefighters will help save more lives.

"We will have more firefighters available and we will be able to keep vehicles on the run longer," said Tony Whiting, retained recruitment officer.

"Because stations have been so low on numbers recently we can now give some firefighters a breather. Some of them have been on call 24/7 for the last year to keep the engines running, that is a massive commitment."

But he added the service was still desperate for more people.

"The problem is still big but we are half way there thanks to the help of the Oxford Mail," said Mr Whiting.

Twenty nine new retained firefighters have been recruited since the campaign, supported by the Oxford Mail, started shortly after Christmas

But Mr Whiting added: "We cannot be complacent. We are looking for anyone aged between 18 and 55- years-old, male or female. We do need a reasonable level of fitness but we're not talking Linford Christies or Sally Gunnells."

The new firefighters said the training had been hard but enjoyable.

They will now be deployed to their home stations and undertake on the job training.

John Houston, 34, a personal trainer from Wallingford, said: "I signed up to help the local community. The training has gone very well. It's a nice bunch of lads and there has been a lot of teamwork."

To find out about becoming a retained firefighter call 0800 587 0870.