ROMANIAN firefighters have been shadowing their Bolton counterparts in a bid to revamp their out-dated 999 service.

Costel Florea, 38, and Doru Esanu, 37, have been trailing Bolton's firefighters on calls all over the town over the last two weeks.

Bolton fireman Graham Smith, co-ordinator of the Greater Manchester Fire Service's Romanian Orphanage Appeal, said the visit was proving a real eye opener.

"There have been mixed feelings on both sides," Graham said. "There have been moments when they have been very sad because they obviously do not have the resources that we have.

"We visited a fire museum the other day and the breathing apparatus we used in the 1930s was identical to the kit they use back home."

The visitors are hoping to mirror Bolton's fire service in Birlad, eastern Romania -- selected by the Romanian government to try out the country's first civilian fire service.

Following the fall of communism, Romania is trying to re-build the former military-run fire service, providing vital 999 cover.

"Most of the Romanian population were forced to leave their homes and live in high rise flats during the communist regime," Graham said. "These are a fire risk and there is little money to provide precautions such as expensive fire doors."

Graham and Bolton divisional officer Phil Nuttall have been touring the North-west giving the Romanians, who have been staying at the fire service's training centre, a fly-on-the-wall chance to witness real-life drama.

Graham said: "They have spent two weekends in Bolton going out on fire calls.

"One night they had a house fire with three persons reported trapped, a stolen car and a burnt-out flat. They have been very impressed with the speed of call out and the response times.

"They are also impressed with the way firefighters enjoy a good relationship with the community, especially schools."

The Birlad fire fighters, who are staying at the fire service's training centre, are said to be astounded by the differences in technology between the Bolton and Romanian population.

Graham added: "They have seen the shops and can not believe what they see."

Bolton has gained a high profile within the former eastern block country after several mercy missions to a poverty-stricken orphange by Greater Manchester firefighters.

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