A POPULAR 'safety day' in Lydford is set to be bigger and better than ever this year.

Safety on Dartmoor Day is now in its fourth year — but this year it will be held in Lydford Sports Field, providing a much larger venue, more parking and more to enjoy.

On hand throughout the day from 11am to 4pm on August 1 will be the emergency services, rescue teams and other organisations that help keep everyone safe.

On the day, subject to emergency call-outs, there will be the opportunity to look around fire engines, police vehicles and ambulances, meet local firefighters, police officers, cliff rescue teams and Dartmoor rescue personnel.

There will be live demonstrations, an opportunity to meet the canine heroes involved in safety and rescue and even have a chance to go on emergency simulator machines.

Dartmoor National Park rangers will be present to show how they work in partnership with the emergency services to keep people safe on Dartmoor — from tackling moorland fires to rescues and rural crime — providing a better service to the public, ensuring a co-ordinated approach to tackling incidents in the national park.

Rob Taylor, sector ranger for the DNPA, said members and rangers would be on hand with their outreach vehicle to provide information on areas that people can visit on the moor, including various attractions on Dartmoor and how to enjoy Dartmoor in a responsible way.

He said: 'It's a great opportunity to engage with the public and have a concentration of people that work for Dartmoor and on Dartmoor in one place so people can find out what we do.'

Members from the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Tavistock will bring one of their Landrover ambulances and will be on hand to answer questions about their roles, equipment and the training and call-outs they undertake.

It is hoped one of the team's dog handlers will also be in attendance.

Devon Air Ambulance representatives will be on hand to tell all about their work.

Cyclists can bring along their bicycles, make a donation to one of the rescue charities and get their bicycle security tagged. Okehampton Air Cadets are offering a climbing experience on their seven metre climbing tower.

Visitors to Safety on Dartmoor Day will also have a chance to meet representatives from MoD and Landmarc who play an important role in safety on Dartmoor's military ranges.