FIREFIGHTERS based at the new Marlow Fire Station showed off their skills at its official opening on Saturday.

Vice Lord-Lietenant Sir Henry Aurbey-Fletcher unveiled a plaque to commemorate the day after Marlow's retained firemen and women gave a drill yard display. The station, at Parkway, close to the A404 and M40, has been built to give the area the best facilities for firefighting and to give people the most up to date information on how to prevent fire.

Rob Jackson, the crew commander, said: "The old one was getting a bit run down. It is nice to have something that we can be proud of."

The Vice Lord-Lieutenant paid tribute to the retained firefighters who have to leave their jobs, and families, at a drop of a hat whenever they are paged.

He said: "They have other jobs and other lives. They have to live within five minutes of this station. As well as thanking them I would like to thank their families for what they have to put up with."

The station is equipped with high-tech call facilities and a gym.