LIVES are being put at risk in the city due to a shortage of firefighters, according to a retired watch commander.

It has emerged that one of the two full-time fire crews that are stationed in Worcester overnight is being sent to Malvern, whenever the town cannot put together its own crew.

Saul Bolton, a retired watch commander at Malvern Fire Station, said: “I think it puts lives at risk. Leaving one crew for a big city is unheard of.

“If you have a priority fire you need two fire engines there as soon as possible. Worcester has two full-time fire engines at night. If one goes to Malvern at night there’s only one that’s going to the priority fire.

“There’s not a lot you can do with four firefighters on a raging house fire. It puts the public and firefighters at risk.”

Mr Bolton said there is supposed to be one retained crew and one full-time crew in Malvern, during the night.

However, he claims that three times between May and September - and at least once over the Christmas period - there were no crews available in the town.

The retired firefighter said this meant a Worcester crew had to be sent over to Malvern.

He blamed the situation on staff shortages, brought about by years of cuts.

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) said: “As we currently have two full-time appliances at Worcester, one has been moved to Malvern as required, whilst always maintaining the agreed cover for the city.

“The current fire crew system at Malvern Fire Station is difficult to maintain as it requires full-time staff to volunteer to be available for night-time cover, in addition to the availability of retained firefighters.

“Recent retirements of full-time firefighters at Malvern have created gaps that HWFRS is working to address in a more sustainable way to improve resilience.”

Worcester is meant to have two teams of full-time firefighters and a retained crew at night, although the latter is not always available.