SACKS of potatoes, wood for the brazier and bottles of beer were some of the gifts from sympathetic passers-by that kept spirits high among firemen picketing at Malvern Fire Station.

That was the report in the Malvern Gazette 25 years ago this week, the last time there was a national firemen's strike.

"The pickets on their three-hour watches have been feeling the cold this week - but not from the public attitude to their action. They say that most people offer them support and they have never been challenged to go back to work," said the Gazette of November 24, 1977.

The same page carried a report on a fire which swept through a resin store at Malvern Aircraft Company, in Spring Lane, causing damage estimated at between £20,000 and £30,000.

The fire was discovered at about 7.30am on November 23, and factory workers moved to tackle it, while calling the emergency services.

It took just 10 minutes for a Green Goddess, manned by soldiers, to arrive from Worcester, but "the fire had a firm grip on the building, which was completely gutted".

Nonetheless, the soldiers brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes and prevented it spreading to the rest of the factory, earning the gratitude of the company's workforce.

Foreman Geoffrey Savage said: "We had a whip round in the factory to buy them a drink. We raised about £20, which isn't bad at this end of the week, just before pay day."

The Green Goddess turned out again to a house fire in Leigh Sinton Road, from which Edward Ferguson, aged 52, rescued his 22-year-old son Joseph, who had been overcome by smoke.