West Yorkshire fire engines fitted with animal welfare kits

The welfare kits include oxygen masks designed specifically for animals

Fire engines across West Yorkshire have been fitted with bespoke welfare kits for animals rescued from house fires.

The packs include oxygen masks, muzzles, slip leads and calming wipes to ease animal stress after a rescue.

The kits were paid for by animal charity Huddersfield Feral and Strays after a funding drive, with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) crews given training.

James Bartle, from WYFRS, said the new kits would "make a big difference".

Huddersfield Feral and Strays co-founder Sally Fletcher took part in a fundraising sky dive to help raise money to pay for them.

"During the trial period the oxygen masks were used on cats who had been involved in a house fire and potentially helped to save their lives," she said.

"It's a great feeling to know this equipment is now on every fire engine."

Fire engines across West Yorkshire have been fitted with the kits

Money for the kits, which can also assist animals during a water rescue, was also raised through charity bake sales and raffles.

Mr Bartle, watch manager for operational equipment at WYFRS, said: "I can think back to a few incidents I have attended where these would have been very useful for the safety of the animals and the crews. "No longer will crews have to struggle to apply a human mask to an animal."