A team of past and present Manx fire fighters travels to Romania next month, to deliver two much needed fire engines to a rural community.

Some parts of the former communist country rely solely on water and buckets when it comes to battling blazes, but it's hoped the equipment and training provided by the team will bring an end to that.

In addition, a high hoist will be donated to crews in a nearby town.

Retired fire-fighter Bruce Kirkham says towns the size of Peel, with 8,000 inhabitants, are 50 years behind Britain in terms of fire fighting resources.

He hopes his group will be able able to bring about the changes needed, but says it won't be easy (audio file attached):

(Picture, supplied by the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service: Devastation caused by a fire in Romania. It took less than an hour to completely destroy this family home).