Green Goddess fire engines and the year when they patrolled the streets of Sunderland nearly 50 years ago

It was the year when Green Goddesses made the headlines.

Armed Forces provided cover

The firefighters strike began in 1977 and the Armed Forces were called in to provide cover.

Army personnel were based at the Dykelands Road drill hall and they used a fleet of 1950s fire engines called the Green Goddesses.

That was the colloquial name for the Bedford RLHZ Self-Propelled Pump, a vintage fire engine which was originally built between 1953 and 1956.

Crews were pictured in Sunderland

The vehicles were designed for the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) as part of Britain's Cold War civil defence preparations. They were originally intended to pump massive amounts of water in the event of a nuclear attack to combat widespread fires but were called into action for a different reason in 1977.

We got some of the Army crews on camera as they enjoyed a game of chess while they waited for calls.

Here are Privates Tony Semley, Clive Angell, Peter Sykes, Richard McLaughlin and George Lamie.

But they were not the only ones in the midst of it.

Huge support from the Round Table

Members of Wearside Round Table provided an emergency back up service during the strike to help tidy after any incidents.

A five man team was operating nightly from a base in the Mowbray Park Hotel.

They were equipped with protective clothing, ladders, and fire extinguishers.

Share your memories of life in Sunderland that year by emailing [email protected]