By Frank Wood fwood@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk MORE than 20 per cent of male firefighters in Britain believe there is no place for women in the frontline job.

Despite the fact that there are now many thousands of policewomen working alongside policemen all over the UK, many firemen still believe their job is too physically demanding for females.

Those are some of the early findings of the first independent research to try to discover why Greater Manchester Fire Service's years of effort to recruit women firefighters have almost drawn a blank.

Despite special efforts and careers event drives to find women recruits, the county's entire service still has only one full-time firewoman -- in Gorton -- and one female part-time retained crew member in Marple.

The GM service now has no chance of meeting a Home Office-imposed target of 300 women on frontline fire duties countywide -- including Bolton, Bury and Leigh -- by 2009.

Even if recruiting suddenly takes a huge upward turn, there will not be enough time to train sufficient women "troops".

But now, for the first time, the service -- which relies heavily on women at the control centre and administrative side of the job -- is hoping to find out exactly why women shy away from a career in one of Britain's best-loved and most respected public services.

Manchester mature student Eve Ritchie has part-completed a dissertation which will form part of a Master's Degree at UMIST.

The findings of the 29-year-old social services student are "eagerly awaited" says GM Fire Service as time runs out on the Home Office requirement.

Eve, a classics graduate and former teacher in Liverpool and Africa, says she is already getting the message why firefighting is regarded as such a no-go job by women.

"Even though we live in an age where women have made strides into all kinds of careers, there is still a perception, among some, that firefighting is still a typically male job," said Eve.

"That is how it is still perceived despite the woman firefighter in London's Burning.

"But as well as the obvious worries about physical strength requirements and concerns about working in a male dominated environment, there is also a basic lack of awareness among women about career opportunities in the fire service."

She said the recruiting problems Greater Manchester faced were the same as those throughout the country.

Paul Shrubb, assistant county fire officer in charge of staff, has given Eve access to the brigade's training, personnel and equal opportunities areas.

"We look forward to her report," he said. "The fire service offers a wonderful career for women but our track record at convincing them needs to improve.

"While I agree that certain perceptions still exist, women can make excellent fire fighters."

The brigade is having a series of open days for women at its Thompson Street training centre.

Details of open days on 0161 908 5155. FORMER gym fitness instructor Clare Louth, 27, says she has never regretted the career move since she joined GM Fire Service five years ago.

For all that time she has worked at the busy Gorton station and says she has never experienced any sex discrimination.

"I'm probably lucky to be working with a really good set, but I am just one of a team and the fact that I am a female just doesn't come into it," she said.

The tests she took -- mental and physical -- to get into the job were identical to those of the males.

But she stressed: "The physical tests are still demanding but they are more realistic to the job."

They included running at full speed to unreel a heavy hose and lifting heavy items such as breathing equipment. But the test no longer includes shoulder-carrying a heavy man.

In five years, Clare says she cannot remember any incidents where she felt her life was in real danger although she has helped to fight many huge fires.

And after six years of marriage, life in the Louth household is pretty well tuned to the shift system. Her husband Mark is a police officer in Cheadle!