FIREFIGHTERS from across the county, including Salisbury, are taking on a half marathon challenge in full kit in memory of a colleague.

The team from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon next month in honour of firefighter Guy Tadman.

Salisbury firefighter Alex Hardisty is part of the team which also includes watch manager Steve Taylor and crew manager Larson Taylor, from Trowbridge; crew manager Mike Cleaver, from Devizes; watch manager Jason Nightingale, who works at the Devizes Training Centre; crew manager Dan Fry and firefighter Jake Brown, both based at Swindon fire station; firefighter Jason Sandy, an on-call firefighter at both Trowbridge and Warminster; and Rick Lavens, a retired firefighter from Devizes.

They will be donning full firefighting kit - helmet, tunic, leggings and breathing apparatus cylinder - weighing around 20kg.

The nine firefighters and two friends will be running to raise money for DKMS, the blood cancer charity, after Guy – who served at Trowbridge fire station for 22 years – died after a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia in April.

Watch manager Josh Wyer, who works at the Devizes Training Centre, and friend Rob Maddocks will also run the race as support crew, carrying water for the rest of the team.

Steve Taylor, who has organised the challenge, having worked closely with Guy for many years, said: “When Guy was ill, so many people wanted to do something to support him or the charities which he and his family could turn to for help.

"He was incredibly proud of being a firefighter, so it seemed appropriate to do something in fire kit. A few of us have done similar challenges in the past, so we know how tough it will be, but we just want to raise as much money and awareness as we can.”

The half marathon takes place on Sunday September 19.

To support the team in their fundraising, visit justgiving.com/team/Tadders