Liskeard Fire Brigade has lauched an appeal to raise £7,000 needed to purchase of a second set of cutting gear.

The launch, at Liskeard Fire Station, was attended by the chairman of Caradon, Councillor George Wilson , Liskeard mayor Jeanne Rees, Liskeard/Looe Round Table, Barclays Bank, and the Liskeard and Looe Lions branches.

The fund raising was given an excellent start by the Round Table, the chairman, Barry Mills, presenting Station Officer Paul Devenish with a donation cheque for £1,000.

Mr Devenish gave a presentation to the guests about the importance of the gear to the brigade, and why they needed an extra set. He said the present equipment is carried on the first engine only, and if it deployed elsewhere when another call comes in with cutting gear required, then it has to be found from elsewhere in Caradon, or even Bodmin. Within the last 12 months the Liskeard firefighters have been without the equipment for a total of 145 hours. 'Even ten minutes is a long time to wait if you are a casualty trapped in a vehicle, waiting for help to arrive' said Mr Devenish.

He said that with Liskeard based on the A38 there were often accidents where more than one set is required , and a few years ago at a very serious accident, all six sets from every brigade in Caradon had to be used.

The brigade, which will be holding fund raising events itself, is also hoping that members of the community will help to raise money by organising functions or making individual donations.

All money received, no matter how small a sum, will be very gratefully received. Donations should be handed in to the Liskeard branch of Barclays Bank.