ATHERSTONE and district firefighters are gearing up for training to take on other emergency services' duties in the battle against coronavirus.

The borough's fire crews could soon be put through their paces on how to drive ambulances – if required.

As part of a new nationwide crisis agreement announced this morning, the county's firefighters are discussing teaming up with West Midlands Ambulance Service crews.

They will also be expected to deliver essential food and medicines to vulnerable people, assist ambulance staff – and retrieve bodies in the event of mass casualties in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The news comes as former ambulance staff and police officers were urged to come back to the front line.

The plan, agreed by the Fire Brigades Union, fire chiefs and employers, will see firefighters maintain core services such as attending fires and road traffic accidents, but also providing extra services as coronavirus continues to spread.

The national plan will run for two months but can be extended if necessary and could affect the UK's 48,000 firefighters and emergency control staff.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "We face a public health crisis unparalleled in our lifetimes.

"The coronavirus outbreak is now a humanitarian emergency and firefighters rightly want help their communities.

"Firefighters are fantastic at teamwork, are experienced in driving emergency vehicles and, as a service rooted in the community, may be best placed to deliver essential items to the most vulnerable.

"Many fear the loss of life in this outbreak could be overwhelming – and firefighters, who often handle terrible situations and incidents, are ready to step in to assist with body retrieval."

Mr Wrack said it would be "quite a serious challenge" for firefighters to take on more work.

He added: "I think this is a huge challenge across public services and also clearly we need to ensure that firefighters and others are protected in terms of personal protective equipment because no-one can do their job if their own safety is compromised."