Ref. 28861-6FOR the second year running firefighters from Stratton fire station have scooped the best new recruit in the country award the Silver Axe.

Marcus Moore, 30, recently returned from his 14-week training course and was named as the firefighter's equivalent of Top Gun.

Last year, 22-year-old Greg Izon, who works at the same station on the same watch, won the award.

Sub officer Dan Cooke, who oversees both men's training, said: "This is great for the brigade and brilliant for Marcus and Greg. It's even better that they are both on the same watch."

Marcus and Greg are part of the eight-strong white watch at Stratton fire station, Highworth Road.

"I really enjoyed the training," said Marcus, who was born and bred in Swindon and now lives in Coleview with wife Veronica and children Clayton, six, and Lydia, five. He previously worked in quality control before changing careers.

"The training is really hard work," said Greg, of West Swindon.

"There are lots of exams, drills and assessments. You cover everything a fully operational firefighter needs."

New recruits are sent away to a residential training course in Reigate, Surrey, for intensive training to kickstart their career in the fire service.

This means that of the eight men on Stratton's white watch, two have been nationally recognised as outstanding new recruits.

Dan said: "Obviously, the watch treats everyone the same but we're very proud of the two of them.

"It's a great start to their careers but they will still need to prove themselves."

There can be up to 60 recruits on each course, although there were 35 on Marcus's, which ended just before Christmas. The courses run three times a year and only one Silver Axe is given out on each course.

The training involves a wide variety of firefighting tasks, ranging from dealing with hazardous substances to attending traffic accidents and fires.

Half of the recruits' time is classroom-based while the remainder of the time is spent undertaking practical tasks.

The training system has recently changed in the fire service. Marcus is now a trainee firefighter until he completes his 18 months of training and he then achieves an NVQ in firefighting.

For Greg, who is a year ahead of Marcus in terms of training, his most memorable day's service so far was attending the fire at the Locarno in Old Town.

Emma-Kate Lidbury