A RETAINED firefighter whose 29-year 'hobby' has seen him save countless lives has hung up his helmet to take early retirement.

Crowle Station watch manager Paul Hope, 53, has extinguished his firefighting career to spend more time with his daughter Charlie, 24, to continue charity work in memory of his late wife Diane and play a spot more golf.

He said: "I've only got Charlie now and it came to a bit of a head because she's been on the back seat for almost 25 years. It's now time for family time.

"I've had 29 years of enjoyment as a retained firefighter. I'm going to miss the lads and lasses but I've been very fortunate to make some good friends over the years."

Paul had a burning desire to join the fire brigade since he was 20 years old.

Since joining in May 1976, he has climbed up the career ladder from retained firefighter and leading firefighter.

Paul took over as watch manager from Alan Proctor in June 1999.

When he joined the Fieldside station, Paul was the youngest firefighter by 25 years.

His first shout was a two-car accident on the A18 near Thorne where he provided first aid to a crash victim.

"The adrenaline was just pumping, I didn't know what to expect," he said.

His first blaze experience was at a house in Keadby. Recalling the shout, Paul said: "When we arrived the kids were climbing out of the bedroom window.

"I went in with a colleague wearing breathing apparatus to find a disabled lady who was behind the bedroom door.

"We got her out unharmed and went back in again.

"I was crawling on my hands and knees and I didn't realise until I got out that I had been trawling through a commode, so they had to hose me down."

Paul said the highlight of the job was rescuing people.

And he said he was proud to be nominated by the fire brigade to attend the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Paul said he has never had any down points, but admits he almost threw in the towel when his wife Diane died from breast cancer in 2006, as she was the fundraising driving force behind the fire service's charity.

Paul said over the years, the tests needed to join the emergency service had changed but would recommend the role to anyone.

He said: "Years ago we never had the cutting equipment so the training has increased as the equipment has developed but I would never hesitate to tell someone to become a retained firefighter."

Paul plans to help out at the station with the launch of a BTEC training course for youngsters.