DEVIZES postmen Rick Lavens and Luke Williams along with Delivery Manager Mark Perrett have officially launched the latest set of Royal Mail Stamps locally.

The stamps features images of fire fighters and the trio were chosen to launch the stamps as they are also retained fire fighters in Devizes.

The retained fire service is a group of men and women who do ordinary jobs, but are ready to go to a 'shout' the moment that a call comes. Royal Mail is happy to support the fantastic number of its people throughout the business who, when the call comes, become part of the dedicated team ready to face any emergency to save lives.

Postal workers are often ideally placed to join the service as theirs is one of the few professions where they can live and work in their local community, this is especially true in smaller towns and villages.

Retained firefighters are hugely important to Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, totalling 60% of its operational personnel. Eighteen of the Service’s 24 fire stations are crewed only by retained firefighters, and they deal with thousands of emergency calls every year. The Service always needs people to come forward and serve their local community – to find out more, call 01380 731144 or visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk The courage and bravery of these men and women saves thousands of lives every year, now Royal Mail pays tribute to the modern-day firefighter on six dramatic stamps.

Issued on 1 September, the Fire and Rescue Service stamps turn the spotlight on those who regularly risk their own lives to save others, and the testing conditions they operate under.

The 1st Class stamp shows two firefighters tackling a blaze, while on the 54p stamp a firefighter has donned specialist clothing and breathing apparatus to deal with a chemical incident.

Often first on the scene at a traffic accident, more specialist equipment is in use on the 56p stamp as firefighters work to free the occupants of a vehicle.

The severe floods of 2007 resulted in a massive rescue effort by Fire and Rescue teams up and down the UK and features on the 62p stamp.

Firefighters trained in urban search and rescue (USAR) techniques use an array of equipment, including man’s best friend as featured on the 81p stamp, to lift, cut away and remove debris from collapsed buildings and damaged vehicles so that the search for casualties can begin.

Fitted smoke alarms in your house? Fire Safety features on the 90p stamps and acts as a reminder of this vital part of firefighters’ work in the community, from school visits to detailed surveys of businesses.

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: “Behind the familiar sight and sound of a fire engine is the serious business of saving lives. These stamps highlight the courage and bravery of our firefighters and the many important aspects of the Service's work. “ The Fire and Rescue Service stamps follow the successful Mayday – Rescue at Sea, issued in March last year, which highlighted the actions of the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.