A SCHEME that provides help for people whose homes are destroyed by fire is launching a recruitment drive.

County Durham's Fire Victim Service, which has been operated by the County Durham and Teesside branch of the British Red Cross since 1994, is seeking more volunteers.

The scheme has about 24 people on its books, but is looking to add about ten more to its rota.

The scheme provides emergency care and support to people whose homes are inhabitable after a fire or flooding.

Co-ordinator Ros Falcus said: "A special mobile unit driven and staffed by volunteers provides a place for victims to rest, wash and be supplied with hot drinks, food and a change of clothing.

"The volunteers will also give assistance in seeking temporary accommodation, and provide photographic equipment to assist with insurance claims."

The scheme is funded by money which the Red Cross raises, and provides a vital service to people who may have nowhere to turn in the immediate aftermath of a fire.

Red Cross community services manager Audrey Wells said: "Families aren't as close as they used to be - they live all over the place - and we help people in the first few hours of crisis.''

The scheme is called out to help by the county's fire brigade or police.

Fire brigade spokesman Station Officer David Turnbull said: " The service is invaluable to us and our communities. We can only do a limited amount of remedial work at a fire scene. We can just make people more easy.

"But once we have gone there is no real follow-up work by the fire service and this organisation fills that gap.

"These people come along with toothbrushes and paste, a change of clothes, can take photographs for insurance purposes and can put a roof over people's heads.

"The Red Cross is a wonderful organisation worldwide and we have a piece of it here in our county doing good work."

Volunteers, who will be given training, are on a call-out rota operating between 7pm and 7am during the week and for a 24-hour period at weekends.

Anyone interested in joining is asked to call Ros Falcus on 0191-386 4367.