On 31^st March Stu Rushton from Green Watch, Telford shattered the Guinness World Record by running the Ironbridge half marathon in full fire kit in 2hrs 00mins 47secs. Stu wanted to say thankyou to Alec Thomas, from his watch, for running ahead of him videoing the whole event.

Congratulations to Stu for this amazing run and for raising money for the Firefighters Charity and Help for Heroes.

If you would like to contribute please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/stu-ruston

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a report of a wheelie bin fire at 8.25pm on Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Waltondale, Woodside, Telford.

The wheelie bin was set on fire at the front of the property and caused fire and smoke damage to the door and porch area. Firefighters from Telford Central and Tweedale attended and entry was forced to the property as initial reports suggested that the occupants were inside the property.

Our advice is always store wheelie bins well away from the front of properties and only put out bins on the day of collection.

Householders are putting their lives at risk by installing their own woodburners in a bid to keep rising fuel costs down, warns Community Fire Safety Manager Rabinder Dhami at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

They are also risking huge financial costs if a fire breaks out as insurance claims potentially could be turned down if stoves are not fitted by a qualified engineer.

There have been eight chimney fires in county homes in March - two of them caused by faulty woodburners. In February there were 23 chimney fires and 28 in January.

Firefighters and staff from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service have paid tribute to the only fireman known to have died on duty in Shropshire.

George Faulconbridge (50) fell to his death during a fire drill in Shrewsbury in 1938 while demonstrating how people could be lowered to safety in a hoist. He lost his grip on a rope and died in front of his firefighting colleagues after the 26ft fall.