Young blacks and Asians are to be given a helping hand up the career ladder by a new scheme set up in conjunction with West Yorkshire Fire Service.

West Yorkshire Fire Authority is linking up with West Yorkshire charity PATH to provide three 12-month work placements for black and Asian youngsters.

The fire service will provide £10,000 to fund the scheme and trainees will contribute to the fire service's administration, fire safety and planning systems.

The jobs will be advertised and the applicants selected in conjunction with PATH (Yorkshire), a charity which provides training, education and work experience to members of black and minority ethnic communities.

A West Yorkshire Fire Authority spokesman said the organisation was eager to have a more diverse workplace.

"Only six of the authority's 230-strong non-uniformed workforce are from a minority ethnic background and this is one way of showing our commitment to race equality while also providing practical experience of full-time work to young job-seekers."

Recruits would gain experience in administration and get a flavour of working in a challenging and interesting environment, the spokesman said.

Young firefighter Mohammed Quadafi, who joined the fire service in 2001, said he had the best job in the world.

He completed much of his probationary training in Bradford and said he relished being a firefighter.

"I want to show the people who are interested that I am Asian and I have done it and they can as well.

"It is the ultimate job and it is the best job in the world - you just cannot beat it for job satisfaction. At the end of the day you go home feeling you have done something good for the community."