City's big buildings roped into rescue contest

The sight of multiple high-rise rescues in Nottingham is not a cause for alarm - but rather a competition in full swing, the fire service has said.

The city is welcoming fire and rescue teams from across the UK and Portugal as it hosts the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) National Rope Rescue Challenge.

On Thursday the contest began at the National Ice Arena and on Friday teams will take on eight different rope rescue scenarios across the city, with venues including the Theatre Royal, Wilford Suspension Bridge and Notts County's Meadow Lane ground.

The fire service asked the public not to be concerned, saying "these will be planned competition scenarios and not real-life emergencies".

A total of 12 teams are taking part in the three-day event which will put their technical rope rescue skills to the test in a series of realistic situations.

Organisers said this year marked 20 years of rope rescue as a UKRO challenge discipline.

On Friday and Saturday, the teams will take on eight different rope rescue scenarios across the city, with other venues being the Crowne Plaza Hotel Car Park, Nottingham Trent University's City Campus, County Hall and the National Justice Museum.

Alex Poyser, a crew manager at Highfields station, is taking part and said these kind of stretcher rescues are now a fundamental part of the job.

"We can't be carrying people downstairs these days," he said.

"If they are a bit heavier than average or if one of the fire fighters stumbles or loses their grip, another firefighter can put their back out.

"We see it time and time again, fighter fighters getting injured from lifting and carrying.

"If we can put a rope system into place, it keeps us safe and it keeps the casualty safe because they don't get dropped."

Leigh Holmes, group manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring fire and rescue services together to showcase their skills, learn from each other and ultimately take that learning back into their everyday work.

"People across Nottingham may see firefighters carrying out what look like rescue operations at a number of locations on the Friday and Saturday.

"We'd like to reassure everyone that these are planned scenarios as part of the competition, so there is no need to be concerned."

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will also enter a team into the competition, alongside services from London, Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, South Wales and an international team from Portugal.

While the public are welcome to watch, organisers have asked them to do so safely and also refrain from flying drones near the sites.

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.