An appeal has been launched to find the family and friends of six Kirkby wartime firefighters who died or were seriously injured during the Christmas blitz in Manchester in 1940.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will be remembering the volunteer firefighters when it marks Remembrance Day in November with a memorial event.

A spokesperson said: “We would love their family and friends to attend, which is why it is so important for us to get in touch with them.

“We have the addresses and ages of each individual at the time, which we can use to confirm their identity with those who come forward.”

The firefighters, who were among eight based in Kirkby, were called to help with the raid in Manchester on 23rd December.

Sadly, three died — Ralph Burrows, a bus driver who left his wife and two young children to go to Manchester, was killed at the scene of the fires in Piccadilly; Alan Richard Day, a painter and decorator by trade, died of his wounds in Robey Street Infirmary, Manchester; and Joseph Henry Wright, also a painter and decorator, who died at the scene in Piccadilly.

The other three firefighters were seriously injured — Ronald Lowe and William Makinson, who were treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary, and George Best, who was brought to Mansfield for treatment at the General Hospital.

Anyone who knows one of the six firefighters should email [email protected]