Cambridgeshire farmer Richard Blackhurst, who designed a coupling to help firefighters connect their hoses to the large water tanks found on many farms, has received a commendation from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Called the Fireman’s Friend, it means firefighters can quickly access large quantities of water rather than having to construct long runs of pipe to streams and ponds. That means fires are put out more quickly and fewer are needed, so more are available for other fires.

To see more details of the device and how to buy it, go to www.firemansfriend.co.uk or see our original story at www.fwi.co.uk/fireman