Hoses at the ready at Dunstable Fire Station

They toured the centre, saw the appliances and even had a go at being firefighters themselves, spraying the hoses with gusto.

They were also treated to an interactive Mad Science event with ‘Nitro Nick’ who did two 40 minute shows. He explained gravity using a balloon and leaf blower and revealed how programmes like the X Factor use dry ice to get that wow factor.

CBC manager Martin Palmer said: “We can’t thank Dunstable Fire Station enough – and the generosity and enthusiasm of firefighter Fiona Delivett.

“Fourteen families attended the day and while the children were being entertained and shown how to drill by the brilliant crews, the parents were able to take part in a workshop with psychologists and phyiotherapists.

“They found the chance to talk to other families extremely useful and gained valuable ideas on ways to support their children and each other.”

Ms Delivett is keen to set up a six monthly networking group for children who’ve suffered burns and their families.

She said: “I want to do whatever I can to get it going so they can have somewhere to come for support that’s quite close. “There are several families who live locally and they often have to travel a long way to hospital burns units.”

She’s been a firefighter for 10 years and has been involved in organising events for the CBC for five of them.

“It’s the best part of my job,” she smiled. “I read about it in one of our bulletins and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do.”

The Children’s Burns Club offers support to young survivors and their families to help them come to terms with burn trauma and altered body image.

> Visit http://www.meht.nhs.uk/our-charity/about-us/childrens-burns-club/