FIREFIGHTERS are making waves in Taunton by offering free swimming lessons to children.

The Swimsafe scheme is an initiative carried out by local firefighters to work with the community and create opportunities to pass on safety messages in a positive environment.

Blue Watch have been running the scheme, which is the only one of its kind in the country, since 2009.

Taunton fire station is also home to a boxing club and has a community room that can be booked by groups and associations.

Swimsafe project manager Ben Swaine and colleagues Nathan Brina, Austin Norton and Kieran Mighty aim to be proactive in reducing water deaths.

Nathan Brina said: “We see the fire station as being part of the wider community and are always looking for new ways to provide services with safety in mind.

“It also has a serious side because as a service we have a water rescue capability and sometimes have to rescue people from rivers and lakes.

“If people can swim, they have a greater chance of survival should they find themselves in difficulty.”

Around 435 people accidentally drown each year in the UK, many of them children.

Swimsafe runs on term time Mondays from 4pm to 6pm in two sessions at St George’s RC Primary School.

All the firefighters involved have lifeguard qualifications and one has swimming teaching qualifications.