WARRINGTON'S firefighters have proved themselves among the best in the country at dealing with road traffic collisions in a national competition.

Members of Blue Watch and Red Watch from the station in Winwick Road travelled to Newcastle-on-Tyne to take part in the National RTC Extrication Competition, where they battled out their skills against nearly 50 other teams.

And the boys from Blue Watch were placed overall second in the high profile competition.

Sub officer Rob Milnes was placed third in the officer in charge category, while firefighter Adam McConkey came second in the best medic competition.

Other team members were leading firefighter Paul Walmsley, leading firefighter John Boswell, firefighter John Turner and firefighter Mark Bushell.

The group won the rapid extrication competition, which involved removing a 'casualty' from a car in 10 minutes.

It also won the limited extrication challenge, which involved firefighters cutting into a car without using the main hydraulic equipment.

Red Watch team members were sub officer John Delay, leading firefighter Ian Swanson, firefighter Simon Todd, firefighter Lee Nash and firefighter Jason Fletcher.

The teams qualified for the national competition following regional heats.

Paul McGugan, station commander at Warrington, said: "Both teams have done very well to get to the finals. This is a serious competition, which only fully committed, professional and dedicated people would enter. They have certainly done us proud."