DEVON and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has recruited two community safety champions to work in the North Devon area and residents were able to meet them at an open morning in Okehampton last week.

The open morning at Okehampton Fire Station gave the public and volunteer agencies the opportunity to meet safety champions Steve Reah and Sally McKay Roper, who will use their experience as local community workers to support vulnerable local people and groups.

Alan Kyle, prevention risk manager for Central Command West, said: 'The aim of this unique role is to promote and deliver community safety advice to communities, targeting the most at-risk groups.'

Recent studies showed that elderly people living alone, people with disabilities or with sight and hearing loss are more at risk of having a fire at their home.

This pilot initiative is to engage with the hard to reach people in the community that quite often feel isolated and alone and may not be receiving any help or support from friends, families or other agencies.

The service is also teaming up with volunteer groups such as Age Concern Okehampton and Torridge, which provides home care services to clients throughout the community.

Group manager Neil Blackburn, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'We know that a large proportion of our vulnerable risk groups are remote by either geography or demography and this initiative will open up those boundaries enabling the effective delivery of our fire safety initiatives.'

The service is particularly looking to reach people who may meet the criteria for a free home fire safety visit and to encourage families to think about their loved ones and make a referral on their behalf.

For more information on the service's home fire safety check scheme, call 0800 0502999.