ON THE hottest day of the year, Bicester's firefighters were feeling the heat with a training exercise in the new community building Franklins House.

The five storey building proved a challenging test for the crews as they simulated a fire on the second floor above the library.

It is part of the fire training which allows crews to practice their skills in unfamiliar areas which last month included the former Tesco site off Pingle Drive.

Crew manager Pete Mackay, from Bicester Fire Station, said: "It is really important that crews are familiar with the growing larger buildings that we now have in Bicester.

"But also having the opportunity to train in buildings that crews are not familiar with allows us to get the best training environments.

"We are really grateful to Cherwell District Council for allowing us to use this building, and for the opportunity to train outside."

The training exercise was carried out on Wednesday, July 20, within the building which includes a 53-bed Travelodge, Bicester library and Cherwell District Council offices, which opened in Spring.

Firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus and take in hoses manually into the building and up to the second floor.