A CAMPAIGN to find a new crop of firefighters has been launched in Cumbria for the first time in eight years.

From Monday October 3, a number of recruitment days will be held across the county to find aspiring firefighters who want to join the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

As it stands, more than 90 per cent of the county's firefighters are white males and as part of the new initiative, the service is keen to encourage women as well as people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and those who are LGBT to try out the taster sessions.

READ MORE: GALLERY: Family fun at emergency services open day in Barrow

REVEALED: Amounts spent on helmets and hoses for Cumbria firefighters

These will allow potential recruits to have a go at the physical tests that form part of the firefighter selection process and chat to firefighters about the role.

Cumbria’s chief fire officer Paul Hancock said: "We are hoping the programme of taster days will result in a broader range of applications which genuinely reflects the make-up of our local communities.

"Working for a modern fire and rescue service offers an exciting and rewarding career and we want to recruit people with a real commitment to improving the safety of their community."

Councillor Barry Doughty, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for Fire and Rescue, said: "This is the first time in eight years that we will be recruiting whole-time firefighters in Cumbria and we’re holding taster sessions around the county next week to help give people a better idea of what the job involves.

"Firefighters do a wonderful job keeping our communities safe and secure, and we want as many people as possible to come forward and help us find the very best new recruits.”

READ MORE: Crews from across south Cumbria rush to Millom to tackle two fires

Fire chief praises brave firefighters from Barrow and Ulverston for tackling shopping centre blaze

The drop-in sessions will take place in five fire stations across the county from Monday October 3 to Saturday October 8.

The first recruitment drive will take place at Barrow fire station on Monday from 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm.

The initial stages of the recruitment process will be undertaken online and can be accessed from noon on Monday 17th October. The application window will then stay open until 12pm on Monday 31st October.

The full list of firefighter taster days:-

· Barrow Fire Station – Monday 3 October, 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

· Kendal Fire Station – Tuesday 4 October, 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

· Penrith Fire Station – Wednesday 5 October, 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

· Workington Fire Station – Thursday 6 October, 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

· Carlisle East Fire Station – Saturday 8 October, 11am-2pm