STATE-of-the-art clothing designed in Bolton to protect fire crews and keep them cool when they are tackling blazes has been tested in the town.

The testing was commissioned by fire chiefs to find a lighter alternative to the present protective clothing used by firefighters.

The fire tunic has been designed by Atherton-based firm Cosalt-Ballyclare and contains a gortex lining and French fabric Kermel, a material used in racing cars.

The fire tunic was put through its paces at Esporta gymnasium, off Blackburn Road last Friday when two firefighters wore the garment during a day long test. Each firefighter had to run for 15 minutes on a Cross -Trainer wearing the fire tunic.

Their body temperature was recorded both before and after the test to determine whether the fire tunic kept the firefighters cool.

If the tests prove a success, the tunics could be produced for fire crews in Bolton and Greater Manchester in the next three months.

Fire crews in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria and Northern Ireland could also be line for the new tunics.

Kevan Whitehead, senior technical officer for Greater Manchester Fire Service, said: "We have been looking for a tunic which will keep firefighters cool when they are tackling blazes.

"Firefighters have to endure incredible temperatures when they are fighting blazes and if their body temperatures is two or three degrees above what it should be, this could prove fatal.

"It has been important that we get this testing right.

"Fire services across the country have been watching the testing with interest."

The results of the test will be known in the next few days.