"Rapid response" volunteers are desperately needed to staff a mobile unit which will deliver comfort and practical support to West Yorkshire fire victims.

The Red Cross in Bradford has teamed up with firefighters to put the £25,000 Fire Victim Support Service on the road.

From June 1, volunteers clad in distinctive red overalls will respond to incidents - including floods and explosions - in an area covering more than 700 square miles.

They will be mobilised by the fire service via a pager and will meet at Pudsey fire station where the unit is based. A Peugeot camper van is kitted out with a shower, clothes, and cooking facilities. Victims can also receive counselling and advice on what to do next.

Fifteen people, including a paramedic and two nurses, have volunteered so far and will be trained. But Graham Foster, service co-ordinator for the Red Cross, wants 40 volunteers on the books to spread the load.

Mr Foster, a former divisional fire officer in Bradford, said: "Volunteers should be reasonably fit but they won't have to go into fires or anything like that. We're not an emergency service. They will be given first aid, counselling and stress training."

Phil Langdale, temporary station commander at Pudsey, said: "The incident commander will decide whether the volunteers should be mobilised, at a house fire for example, if the property is in such a state that the occupiers won't be able to return for some time.

"The victims can have a hot drink or change of clothes and will be driven to relatives if there are any nearby."

He added: "Five other brigades run a similar system including South Yorkshire where it has been a success. We'd like to run two eventually because we have such a big area to cover."

Events are now being organised to fund the service which will operate out of office hours - between 6pm and 7am on weekdays and over the weekend from 6pm on Fridays to 7am on Mondays. There will also be Bank Holiday cover.

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