The soldiers providing fire cover in the West Midlands during the firefighters' strike were due to undergo battlefield training when they answered the government's call, reports BBC News Online's Simon Page.

Members of the First Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales were ordered to swap their German barracks for temporary fire stations across the region.

While they are supported by professional firefighters from the RAF, the young recruits had never seen the inside of a fire engine until two months ago.

Now they face the prospect of using their Green Goddesses to protect 2.6m people in the West Midlands.

Our force has received the best training available and will do their best to protect the people of this region

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Napier

One of the crews spoke to BBC News Online just a few hours before the strike was due to begin at 1800 BST on Wednesday.

Lance Corporal Martin Adams said: "We were about to start our training month when we were sent to train for the strike.

"That was in mid-September and we've been working with the RAF firefighters since then."

'Water carrier'

Lance Corporal Darren Sweeney added: "We've practiced by taking part in scenarios with the military fire service.

"They have all the equipment and training, we basically supply the water."

The RAF provide professional firefighters

The Goddesses are designed as a back up to the main breathing apparatus rescue teams (BARTs) and the rescue equipment support teams (RESTs).

There are 13 BARTs covering the West Midlands, carrying cutting equipment, breathing apparatus and basic kits to tackle chemical spills.

They are supported by a single REST which has more advanced equipment for the most serious incidents.

'Everyone's nervous'

These are manned by professional fire fighters from the RAF who normally provide cover on bases in the UK and abroad.

These will be first on the scene to all calls, with the Goddesses following behind.

In total, 750 military personnel have been drafted into the West Midlands to cover the strike in what the Ministry of Defence has called Operation Fresco.

Leading them is Lieutenant Colonel Philip Napier who said: "Our force has received the best training available in the time we've had.

"I can assure everybody that they will, to a man and to a woman, do their best to protect the people of this region."

Lance Corporal Sweeney agreed: "Everyone's nervous about what we face.

"But it's something different for us and something challenging.

"We're confident we can do the job well."