FIREFIGHTERS from North Tawton who braved a blizzard to help a pregnant woman have received an award in recognition of their efforts.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer, Lee Howell, presented commendation certificates to the firefighters and control staff for their actions taken above and beyond the call of duty in February 2009.

Ambulance crews and an RAF helicopter were unable to reach Andrea Dunn, also from North Tawton, when she went into labour with twins at home, but, thanks to the firefighters, help was on its way when the team came to rescue her after fitting snow chains to their appliance.

The journey to the hospital took more than 40 minutes with the eight-strong crew having to stop twice to clear fallen trees and debris from the road.

Four more firefighters and Mrs Dunn's husband, Will, followed in a smaller, four-wheeled fire truck, which also assisted in unblocking the road.

Within minutes of arrival at the hospital the twin baby girls, Elizabeth and Stephanie, were delivered.

Guests of honour for the evening were Mr and Mrs Dunn, along with their twin girls, who met the crew for the first time since the twins were born.

Chief fire officer of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Lee Howell, said: 'People quite rightly expect the emergency services to provide support in times of need, and the fire and rescue service maintains a high level of both public satisfaction and confidence. 

Mr Howell said attending fires and road traffic accidents were part of their statutory duties, but they also provided a safety net when things went wrong, with specialist rescue responses.

'We don't, however, often rescue heavily pregnant women from being trapped in the middle of a severe snow storm and take them to hospital, as was the case earlier in the year.'

Mr Howell said working for the fire services was much more than just a job. Firefighters did not do their job for praise or recognition, so when their actions were above and beyond that reasonably expected he believed it important to praise for a job well done.

Andrea Dunn said: 'The twins are doing extremely well and everything is good.

'It was so good to see the fire brigade again because on the night, it was just faces, but to hear what was going on between them and the operator and midwives while I was in labour was really good.

'I didn't realise just how much stuff was going on in the background with the fire brigade having to work out the route and where all the houses were between North Tawton and Okehampton.

'They gave me a really nice bunch of flowers on the night. It was about them really; they are just fantastic.'