Celebrating 200 years of Manchester Fire Brigade

Celebrations are taking place to mark 200 years since England's first fully organised and publicly funded municipal fire service was founded in Manchester.

The Manchester Fire Brigade was founded in May 1826 - and its contemporary descendant Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has hosted events across the region to celebrate the double century milestone.

Events will culminate at Manchester Central Community Fire Station with a "fun-filled day for all ages" at a station open day on Saturday.

"The heritage and history here is very strong," fire service manager Ben Levy told BBC Radio Manchester.

"The modern service that protects Greater Manchester communities now is built on that heritage and history."

The 200 Years Of Fire Service in Manchester Open Day will run from 11:00 to 16:00 BST on Saturday at the station in Thompson Street.

Organisers said the event will offer the chance to explore the history of the fire service and meet current local firefighters.

"There will be lots to do for families and it is open to everybody," Levy said.

"There'll be rides for children there'll be some of our newer fire engines and our older fire engines.

"And we will be showing some of the newer technology that is available as we go in to the next 200 years."

Before 1826 firefighting in the UK had been either insurance-based or volunteer-led so Manchester Fire Brigade marked the country's first steps toward a publicly funded, organised fire service.

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