EIGHT members of the Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service, including three from Stroud, will compete for gold at the World Firefighter Games this month.

The team have been busy raising money to fund their trip to the Games, which are in Daegu in South Korea and run from August 21-29. It is held every two years in different countries throughout the world.

The Games is similar to a mini-Olympics involving a variety of individual and team sporting events. It includes a number of events which are specific to the firefighters' emergency service role. The host country donates the profits to charity.

Tammy Bell, Steve Price and Chris Barton are representing Stroud on the team alongside Josh Bence, Stewey Mathews and Suzanne Enghed (Cheltenham), Neil Scott (Cirencester) and Dave Lane from Headquarters at Waterwells, Quedgeley.

Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service’s Simon Booth said: “The group heading to South Korea have raised money through quizzes and car washing to help fund their trip. They are all really looking forward to the challenges waiting for them.

“Hopefully we can achieve similar success to the 2008 Games, when we achieved an impressive haul of five gold, six silver and seven bronze medals.”

There are many events and competitors can choose which to enter on arrival. The events include athletics, volleyball, assault course, ‘Toughest Firefighter Alive’ (tough assault course Fire Service related tasks), dragon boat racing, squash and arm wrestling as well as more traditional Olympic events.

The 2008 Games were held in Merseyside and attracted more than 5000 competitors from all over the world. It featured 60 sporting events over 10 days.

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Youth, said: “The World Firefighter Games are very competitive and are held in high regard by fire services around the world. Congratulations to our Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service competitors for raising the necessary funds to take part and I wish them every success.”