VOLUNTEERS at Darlington fire station took to an emergency tent to show their work in action.

Members of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service were showing national vice-chairwoman Alice Cleland what they do within the fire service.

The trained volunteers are on hand to assist victims of fires and floods in the region.

Chris Dobson, volunteering manager for the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, said: "For part of the visit we decided to host a table-top emergency exercise at our Darlington office, so that Alice could see our emergency volunteers in action.

"We then had a typical emergency services lunch in a fully inflated outdoor emergency tent, to really get the feel for how we help the public in times of need."

Ms Cleland also visited the the Women's Royal Voluntary Service coffee lounge at the Pioneering Care Centre, in Newton Aycliffe.