THE Rotary Community Shop recently donated a cheque for £250 towards the purchase of a new exercise bike to the Launceston Fire and Rescue Service.

The station has modern fire fighting and rescue equipment but the county does not finance extra crew support items.

Good crew physical fitness is an important contribution to dependable back-up for colleagues when facing hazardous situations and regular fitness assessments are necessary.

The exercise bike has instrumentation for measuring physical effort and will be installed in a makeshift gym at the fire station.

Members of the fire station are trying to raise funds for a second bike to introduce competition to training.