A FIRE engine donated by Dorset’s fire brigade has arrived in the South Atlantic after a month-long voyage. The Dennis Sabre was shipped from Portland Port to the remote island of St Helena on a Royal Mail ship. Deputy fire chief Alan Thomas and station officer Kevin Hudson from the St Helena Fire Service took receipt of the engine on its arrival.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) donated the engine as it has valuable equipment to bolster the tiny island’s brigade.

Darran Gunter, who is chief fire officer of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am delighted that this former Dorset appliance has arrived safely and can now begin its second working life on the island.

“Although it has been decommissioned by DFRS, the engine will now help crews on St Helena.”

The appliance was being replaced by the Dorset brigade as part of its ongoing replacement programme.

But its equipment and facilities were in short supply on St Helena.

Engines on St Helena did not have large water-carrying capacities. The new engine just sent to St Helena has an 1,800 litre capacity.

Other goods to arrive in the island included windmill blades, 60 chicks and Christmas gifts and puddings.

St Helena is an island in the South Atlantic and is a British Overseas Territory. It is 47sq miles in size and has a population of 5,000.

A Royal Mail Ship called the St Helena leaves Portland Port every September to take valuable supplies and a handful of passengers.