Over 300 firefighters across the country take part in rescue challenges on Tyneside

Firefighters from across the country will take part in a two-day 'Festival of Rescue' which sees participants take up life-saving challenges.

Newcastle and Gateshead's Quayside will host 300 competitors from 25 fire and rescue services who will be demonstrating their skills in and around the River Tyne.

Teams will battle it out across five disciplines, vehicle extrication, trauma care, urban search and rescue, rope rescue and water rescue.

The public will be able to watch competitors display their skills, while the different fire and rescue services will be able to learn from each other.

Chief Fire Officer, Chris Lowther of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The focus of the festival is to celebrate the skills, dedication and devotion of our firefighting heroes, who put their lives on the line to keep the public safe from harm on a daily basis.

"It provides a national stage to shine a spotlight on to those specialist disciplines that prove critical during real-life incidents and emergencies."

The challenge is organised by the charity UKRO (United Kingdom Rescue Organisation) and is staged in a different city every year.