VOLUNTEERS from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have helped to increase hospital capacity in the region in the fight against coronavirus, including shifting beds from Thurrock to Brentwood.

On Saturday, an Essex County Fire and Rescue Service team was tasked with moving equipment out of Mayfield Community Hospital in Thurrock ready to be loaded onto vans.

The priority was to get the hospital beds to Brentwood Community Hospital where another ECFRS team was waiting to unload them.

Brentwood Hospital is being turned into a specialist site to look after patients with Covid-19.

Mark Powell, ICT senior application analyst, said: "Being stuck inside with the current restrictions can be frustrating; this was a chance to help the NHS in its fight against Covid-19.

"It was a pleasure to help, and I hope we can do the same again in the future."

Dan Bailey, education co-ordinator, said: "I was happy to be involved in such an important project. It was quite heavy work at times but there was a great team spirit from everyone on site and we got the job done quickly and efficiently."

Steve Rhodes, safe and well officer, said: "Although we are still serving the public in our everyday roles, I felt it would be good to do something a bit more direct.

"It's been a great experience working with colleagues from our service and other agencies in helping the heroes in the NHS."

Lieutenant Owen Graham, incident planner on the COVID Incident Management Team, said the volunteers have helped to increase hospital capacity across Essex as part of the response to Covid-19.