A remembrance service was held at Ashfield Fire Station to remember the three local firefighters who lost their lives in the 1940 Manchester Blitz during the second world war — and a further three who were seriously injured.

The tribute to Ralph Burrows, Joseph Wright, Alan Day, Ronald Lowe, William Makinson and George Best, who were featured in the News Journal earlier this year, was organised in collaboration with ATTFE College and Ashfield School, Sutton.

Firefighters have worked alongside the college on different projects this year, including the remembrance event, which was Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s biggest.

The display at the station on Sutton Road, Kirkby, features around 165 Remembrance ‘tommies’ made by learners at the college, as well as more than 3,000 knitted poppies donated by the local community.

The event, which followed a service at St Mary’s Church Cenotaph, Sutton, was attended by family and friends of the victims.

A plaque, designed and created by Ashfield District Council, was unveiled during the service by local historian David Needham.

After the official ceremony, there was a demonstration from the National Fire Service, which re-enacted traditional firefighting scenes.