'Five-year-old me would be happy I'm a firefighter'

A man who was inspired to become a firefighter while visiting a fire station at the age of five has recreated a photo capturing the special moment as he starts work with the brigade.

Lewis Owen was shown around Stockton Fire Station by firefighter John Henderson 13 years ago and was pictured using the station pole.

Now the are now colleagues as Owen has joined the service as on-call firefighter himself, taking the opportunity to update the classic pose.

Owen, who always dreamed of becoming a firefighter, said of the veteran firefighter: "He's taught me a lot of things. We've been on a few jobs together."

The newcomer said Henderson has also had to adapt: "A lot of the equipment has changed, a lot of how the shifts work now.

"He's had to tell me how he's had to change with the changes as well."

The 18-year-old recalled walking past the fire station with his granddad as a child to look at the engines and the original image was captured during one of those visits.

Cleveland Fire Brigade said it had inspired Owen to join the fire service.

Owen said he had always wanted to be a firefighter and hoped to serve for even longer than Henderson.

"I never knew it would exactly be here, close to home," he said.

"I think five-year-old me would be happy about that."

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