LINKS have been forged between the fire brigades in Warrington and its twin town of Hilden after singing and dancing team The Smoke Busters took part in a week-long carnival.

The group, which includes firefighters and students from Bridgewater High School's Arts College, went to the German town last week to perform popular songs with a fire safety message for crowds which gathered for the annual event.

The firefighters also visited the fire station and looked around the engines, discussing patterns of fires in their towns and how they tackle them.

Their itinery also included a trip to Dusseldorf and Cologne to visit the carnival procession and a big reception in the town hall.

The trip was funded by Warrington Borough Council, the fire brigade and the arts college, while Asda Birchwood donated sweets for the group to throw off its float to the crowds.

Adrian Luty, station commander at Birchwood fire station, said: "It was a brilliant trip.

"We have set up future exchanges and compared how we both deal with the same things from a skills and community fire safety point of view."