FIREFIGHTERS are being put through their paces in hot house conditions in new facilities at a North-East brigade's training base.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade is now able to provide realistic blaze-like conditions for its operational training, but with built- in safety fall backs to prevent injury.

The new two-storey multi-purpose training building has come into use at brigade headquarters at Framwellgate Moor, Durham.

It was officially declared open by Councillor Len O'Donnell, chairman of the combined County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority, on Monday.

He was joined by youngsters from nearby St Godric's RC Primary School to watch the new training facility being tried out by firefighters.

A number of safe viewing areas are provided throughout the building to enable the public and instructors to watch training activity.

Coun O'Donnell said it was only the second such facility in the country, designed to provide the best possible operational training to give Durham's firefighters the "vital skills" needed to deal with dangerous compartment fires.

Firefighters are able to practice in search and rescue techniques, gaining access in a confined space and ladder pitching, while using a wide range of specialist equipment.

Station officer Alan Wray said the new building allows the brigade to use cosmetic "environmentally-friendly" smoke, in controlled surroundings.

Fail-safe mechanisms ensure an automatic shut-down should temperatures grow too high, while sensors and video cameras allow observers to chart the position of anyone in the training building.

Station officer Wray said interest is already mounting in the new training building, with several other brigades visiting to see it in action