A REAL life Fireman Sam was thrilled when Stockton Heath firefighters visited Mayfield Montessori day nursery to meet the youngsters.

Four-year-old Sam Gibbons was just one of the children at the Grappenhall nursery who were allowed to sit in the fire engines and turn on the hoses as part of their People who help us' project.

The youngsters, who have made a fire station out of cardboard boxes in their play area, were given a basic talk on fire safety and the number to call to reach the firefighters.

Pauline Wellsby, senior nursery nurse, said: "We didn't inform them that the firefighters were coming just in case they were called out, so it was a surprise. I think they all want to become firemen and women and after they left the children drew pictures of the firefighters we had met."