Take a look inside Marley Park's fire engines at fun day

Marley Park Community Fire Station is holding an open day on Saturday, from 11am to 3pm, so residents can learn more about fire safety.

Entertainment includes a climbing wall, static animal display, trampoline, bouncy castle, African drummers, food stalls, face painting and Disney characters.

The event also features a DJ, magician, football cage and battle zone archery.

Firefighters will be on hand to give fire safety advice to visitors about the importance of having working smoke alarms, how to plan an escape route in case of fire, keeping safe in the kitchen while cooking and how to avoid electrical fires.

There will also be operational drills and chip pan demonstrations. Visitors will be able to sign up for a free home safety check to advise them on how to minimise the risk of fire happening in their homes.

Local support groups, Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service will have representatives offering help and advice.

There will be opportunities to look around the station and the fire appliances, see how the specialist equipment works and learn how firefighters deal with different emergency situations.

District manager Ian Cuskin, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, explained why the open days are an important feature in the service’s calendar.

He said: “Keeping the public safe drives the work of everyone in Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

“People often think they can’t come into a fire station, but we are at the heart of the local community and we welcome residents in and invite them to use the community rooms.

“Open days like this are a chance for us to spread our fire safety messages and help people find out how to keep themselves and their family safe from fire.

“People know that the fire and rescue service puts out fires and attends road traffic collisions, but there’s so much more work that we do to help create the safest community.”