FIREFIGHTERS in the region were visited by the Bishop of Durham on Saturday.

The Right Reverend Paul Butler was at Chopwell Community Fire Station on stage three of his four-day prayer walk around the diocese.

The station is manned entirely by 12 part-time retained firefighters, who give up their free time to be on call for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

The aim of this leg of the prayer walk was for the new bishop to get to know the West Gateshead area and its people, and to pray with and for them.

Bishop Paul said: “Prayer Walks are a fantastic way of engaging with communities. I have taken part in them before and they are a highlight of my year because of the range of people we meet and the places that we visit.

“As we walk and pray together we seek to bless, and be blessed by, the people and communities that we visit. It is a way of the church and community engaging together for the benefit of that community.”

Father Paul Murray, priest in charge at St John the Evangelist in Chopwell, said: “The staff of Chopwell Fire Station are so respected and are very much a part of this community; they should be acknowledged during the Bishop's prayer walk.”

Station Manager Gary Yates, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The church has identified the fire station in Chopwell as a community asset and recognises that these firefighters are part-time who give back to the community.

“We are delighted that the Bishop and those taking part in the prayer walk called at the station for refreshments and to meet local people.”