THE West Country is desperately short of people ready and able to fight fires in the countryside.

Fire brigade chiefs across the region have admitted they are failing to meet Home Office targets on emergency cover in some towns and villages.

And Williton is among those singled out as being hardest hit.

It is one of 24 fire stations in Somerset that rely on retained firefighters, but there are only 354 in the county instead of 390.

Fire chiefs say it is becoming more and more difficult to recruit people - and now an appeal has been launched to residents and businesses.

Somerset Fire Brigade Assistant Divisional Officer Chris Marchmont said Williton was a problem area because its residents tended to work somewhere else.

"We have plenty of people available in the evenings and weekends or who work a shift system, such as at Watchet paper mill.

"What we need is people able to cover in the day - nine to five, Monday to Friday.

"Ideally, we're looking for people who live in or near the village and work locally for employers willing to let them leave the workplace when necessary."

When a 999 call is received, retained firefighters are alerted at home or work to join the crew and take part in the operation.

Mr Marchmont stressed the brigade's appreciation of the support given by employers: "They make a major contribution to the safety of the public just by releasing their staff.

"There is a benefit to the employer in having trained fire fighters on the staff who can bring their expertise to the company.

"Releasing staff as retained firefighters costs employers in terms of lost production, but there is an upside as well."

People interested in training as retained firefighters need to be reasonably fit and strong. There is no height restriction, and the compulsory retirement age is 55: "But it would not be a sensible investment for us to train someone of, say, 52," said Mr Marchmont.

"Recruits should be able to offer a good period of service, to pass a fitness test and a fairly rigorous medical check at Musgrove Park. And they shouldn't be colour blind or anything like that.

"It is a fairly demanding job, but it is paid and those who do it can expect commitment from us in return."

Anyone interested in applying in Williton may contact Station Officer Richard Chamberlain who is at the fire station between 7pm and 9pm on Fridays.

Williton is among three Somerset fire stations with an acute shortage, the others being Ilminster and Crewkerne.

Somerset Chief Fire Officer Martin Burrell said: "Whilst we are still able to meet the standards of fire cover, inevitably additional pressure is put upon the firefighters at these stations."

The pressure is affecting emergency response times, especially in remote areas, making it difficult to meet the eight minute target time for the first fire engine to reach the scene after a 999 call.

Station Officer Andy Newland, of county headquarters, said: "The people of Somerset depend on the fire service during times of emergency.

"We in the fire brigade need the support of local people and businesses to give up some time or members of their workforce to join us.

"This will mean that we can maintain the level of response that we rightly expect both now and in the future."

A series of open days is planned in Somerset. A date has yet to be fixed in Williton.