TEN new firefighters have been welcomed into the Essex Fire and Rescue service during a passing out ceremony.

The ceremony was held at the Service Training Centre in Witham and was attended by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Moira Bruin and Roger Hirst, who is the police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex.

Proud family, friends and colleagues looked on in the crowd and the ceremony was live streamed for those who couldn’t make it in person.

The service’s new recruits were welcomed into the service during a passing out ceremony where they performed two drills to show off their training in dealing with a house fire as well as a road traffic collision.

They were then welcomed into the fire service by deputy chief fire officer Moira Bruin.

She said: “We are always proud of our new recruits, and today is no exception.

"The new recruits will now be heading to Basildon, Brentwood, Grays, Harlow and Loughton.”