FIRE crews put on a special display for the kids in the neighbourhood when the East End marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the London Blitz.

FIRE crews put on a special display for the kids in the neighbourhood when the East End marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the London Blitz.

An open day was staged by the crews at Shadwell fire-station, at the heart of dockland where the Luftwaffe began its air-raids against London’s civilian population in September, 1940.

But all that was put aside on Saturday as children got down to the serious business in hand—climbing all over the big, red fire-engines, watching the crews carry out a rescue from their practice tower… and of course having a go at squirting a real hose pipe.

The fun day was aimed at getting the younger generation involved in being aware about fire safety in the home and in the community.

It also marked the 70th anniversary of the new fire station opening in Cable Street in 1940—just in time for the air-raids.

But for those who remember the Blitz all those years ago, there was a nostalgic display of wartime pictures staged at the fire station by the charity Firemen Remembered, which raises funds to pay for memorials to those who died on duty during the Second World War.