FIREFIGHTERS answered a call with a difference - to help a museum keep its flag flying.

A 999 crew from Richmond turned out to the nearby Green Howards Regimental Museum to fix the banner on to the building.

The museum occupies one of the most prominent sites in the town, the former Holy Trinity Church in the Market Place.

Its tall banner attracts visitors but was damaged in gales last year.

Curator Major Roger Chapman said the fire and rescue service had taken down the damaged banner and had put the new one in place.

Five men from blue watch at the fire station, in Gallowgate, used ladders to hoist the banner in place.

Leading Firefighter Steve Harris and firefighters Richard Brown, Kev Errington, and Craig Miller, supervised by Sub Officer Steve Blake, quickly had everything secure.

Maj Chapman said: "We contacted Assistant Divisional Officer Nigel Phillips who readily agreed to help us.

"The men used the occasion as a training exercise - and they certainly saved us a great deal of hard and dangerous work. We are very grateful to them all."