A NEW generation of firefighters are poised to begin work after attending a passing-out ceremony.

In total, 17 firefighters attended yesterday's event in Easingwold, six of which will be based in North Yorkshire, with the remainder in Humberside.

The ceremony saw the firefighters put their new skills into action, demonstrating how they would extinguish a car fire and deal with a road accident, pictured, among other emergencies.

John Swires, training and operational assurance manager for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, said it was a very proud moment for all the new firefighters, three of whom were women.

Mr Swires said: "The day is about the trainees having completed 13 weeks of a very intensive course.

"They are taught a number of key skills and this was the culmination of all that hard work. It was a very proud day for them - some were in tears."

Mr Swires said some of the new recruits would begin work as early as Wednesday, when they will be on call for the first time.