TWO fire engines have been reunited after being pensioned off 120 miles apart.

Former Sunderland fireman Dennis Barker bought his 1957 fire engine from Lancashire County Fire Brigade about 30 years ago.

The NCB 100 engine was used by Blackburn fire brigade in conjunction with an NCB 500. But at the weekend, the vehicles were back together, with Lancashire firefighters taking their vintage engine from Blackburn and Mr Barker driving his vehicle from his home near Sunderland.

They met halfway, at Harrogate fire station, North Yorkshire.

Mr Barker said: "I have quite a few contacts at Blackburn fire station and I said it would be great to get both the fire engines together one day. So it was beautiful to see them side-by-side.

"A lot of people from Blackburn came down for the event.

"I had no problem getting it there, it has a Rolls Royce petrol engine in it."

Mr Barker looks after his vehicle at his farm near South Hylton, near Sunderland. Although he retired from the fire service in 1988, he has never lost his enthusiasm for the job.

He has an extensive collection of brigade memorabilia, including brass helmets and 150 model engines, including 20 old Sunderland vehicles. He even has the front end of a full-sized Dennis fire engine, which was given to him by Beamish Museum, County Durham.

He said: "It's quite a lot of work to look after the fire engines, but you get used to polishing and keeping them clean after all those years in the service.

"When I joined the service you were proud of your fire engine. You polished them every day."