FIREFIGHTERS from Kidderminster and Stourport will battle it out with colleagues in special challenges where their skills will be put to the test.

Ten teams from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) will head to Wychbold near Droitwich to compete for places in the national UKRO (United Kingdom Rescue Organisation) Challenge 2014.

HWFRS is staging two challenges this year - the Trauma Challenge and the Extrication Challenge - which will take place at Webbs at Wychbold, on the A38 Worcester Road.

Both Challenges take place on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm and a winner from each category will go forward to compete at the national UKRO championships in Essex in August.

Each challenge has been devised to further improve the skills of fire crews taking part and to develop best practice techniques that fire and rescues services nationally can share.

Four teams of two, from Kidderminster, Evesham, a mixed team from Droitwich and Worcester and a team from Staffordshire will take part in the Trauma Challenge, a timed event that will test the response of participants who will face one of a selection of trauma incidents and be expected to identify and treat the injuries found.

A mixed team from Stourport and Kidderminster will be among six, with the others from Ross-on-Wye, Bromyard, Worcester, Pershore and Staffordshire, will take part in the Extrication Challenge, which consists of a simulated road traffic collision, where those competing have 20 minutes to safely extricate the casualties trapped inside the vehicle involved.

Station Commander Gareth Clarke, of HWFRS, said: “We wish those taking part every success. Their skills will be tested at speed, as they compete for a place in the national competition. These challenges truly enhance the expertise and abilities of our fire and rescue crews and the service we provide to our communities.”

He urged members of the public to call at Webbs to watch the challenges taking place, explaining it was a good opportunity to observe at close hand the nature of some of the incidents firefighters respond to.

Richard Lawrence, Deputy Chief Fire Officer with HWFRS, will be attending the event at around 4pm to announce the winning teams.