A YATE firefighter has spoken out about how harrowing the job can be after coming up with an idea to boost the mental health of his crew.

Shift leader Mark Rayner wants to brighten up the station using artwork from three nearby secondary schools in a bid to support the well-being of firefighters after traumatic call-outs. 

Mark hopes that brightening up bare walls at the base in Station Road will help support the mental health of the team and boost morale.

Entries will be handed in July and a family open day to showcase the display and highlight the work firefighters undertake is planned for October 1. 

The walls are currently either grey or adorned with posters about firefighting.

Mark said the mental health of firefighters is paramount to their ability to work but that the harrowing side of the job means it is essential they have a tranquil space to discuss their thoughts and feelings when returning from traumatic incidents.

"When we come back from incidents we need to have something like a green space area, to pause, reflect and regroup," he explained.

"We have an outside area but we can't use it in the winter.

"We need a tranquil setting internally because we need to be able to get away from the job sometimes.

"That's how we came up with the idea for the art competition - hopefully the work will give us the ability to make a space internally that we can use to help us.

"Our job can be really quite harrowing and people don't seem to know the extent of our job, this is another reason we are holding the open day, to celebrate the work of the students but also to help let people know an understand more about what we do."

Students at Brimsham Green, Chipping Sodbury and Yate Academy have been asked to produce work that will promote the well-being of the crew.

Entries will be judged by the chief fire officer of Avon Fire and Rescue, Simon Shilton, and the top four will be digitally enhanced to cover wall space inside the station.