It was organised chaos, was one firefighter’s conclusion after a group of Guides visited his fire station.

Peter Miller welcomed about 40 members of the St John’s Guides to Woodford Fire Station, Snakes Lane West, Woodford Green to learn about safety for one of their badges.

Mr Miller said: “We showed them how to be proactive rather than reactive.

“The girls all enjoyed it and took a keen interest. It was mad, but organised chaos.”

They were told of the dangers of hoax calls as well as what to do and who to call in an emergency.They were then given a practical demonstration of how to cut up cars and how to use the water hose and equipment.

The talk was part of an increase in community fire work by the London Fire Brigade to raise awareness of the dangers of fire to young people.