Big businesses must become more flexible to help solve a shortage of retained firefighters in Pembrokeshire.

Part-time firefighters are essential for keeping eight local fire stations open, but several factors, including large firms not allowing staff to be on call as firefighters while at work, has led to a shortage.

Now south county parliamentary candidate Simon Hart and AM Angela Burns are asking businesses to be more supportive.

They recently toured Whitland fire station, which is kept open by retained firefighters. To cover daytime shifts they have to be able to reach the station within a few minutes.

“That’s why we are especially short of crew to cover the daytime shifts,” explained station manager Simon Pearson.

“We may have enough people who live close enough to the station for night calls but we also need people who can get there quickly from work.

“We find that some of the larger employers are not very accommodating when it comes to allowing retained firefighters to be on call.”

Mrs Burns said: “I think it’s very short-sighted and disappointing that big companies won’t let their staff be on call in case they get called in.

“These employers can surely spare one person for a few hours on the rare occasions they’ll get called out.”