Firefighters are winning the battle over stopping vehicles from parking in front of their station.

Fire officers at Braintree fire station believe lives are being needlessly put at risk by reckless members of the public who hamper fire rescue efforts by parking in front of the station's main doors.

The message came from Braintree's retained firefighters as vehicles, which amazingly included parked cars and turning lorries, blocked the station's fire trucks when answering emergency calls.

Finally, the Braintree crew's desperate pleas to prevent non-essential vehicles parking in front of their Railway Street base seem to have hit home.

Steve Wintrip, station officer, said: "The matter has been resolved now. We've made sure that the gates at the back are shut so no-one can cut through. If any of the guys see anyone out the front they're out there like a shot. We just hope it continues."

Published Friday, January 14, 2005

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