AIRCRAFT firefighters from around the world have been trained how to handle the media, thanks to staff at a North-East college.

Fire officers from as far away as New Zealand and the Caribbean were among a group to receive training at the Serco International Fire Training Centre based at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

As part of their six-week course, three trainees also attended a media awareness training day at Darlington College of Technology.

When major incidents occur at airports, fire officers have to deal with a host of media inquiries.

The course is to designed to familiarise fire officers with the techniques used in as realistic conditions as possible.

College tutors covered the whole range of media interviews, including newspapers, TV and radio.

Serco instructor, Station Officer Bob Ford, said: "It was an extremely good course and I think all the trainees will feel the benefit when dealing with the press in the future."

Darlington College tutor John Gibb said: "The aim is to make the training as realistic as possible to prepare them for the real thing."