Stuart Millsom is the ideal man in an emergency, as he works as both a firefighter and an ambulance driver.

Mr Millsom has just completed 25 years as a part-time firefighter at Wallingford fire station.

But the father-of-two from the town’s Atwell Close has an exhausting schedule – he also has a full-time job as an emergency care assistant for South Central Ambulance service.

The 48-year-old, who started working for the ambulance service based at Didcot in August, said: “I drive the ambulances and help out where I can with the patients, although I am not a clinician.

“I usually work four days on, doing the nightshift from 6pm to 6am for the ambulance service, and half an hour after I get back I start providing cover as a retained firefighter for Wallingford fire station.

“We have had a couple of shouts for the fire service just before I am about to start work for the ambulance service.

“So far, I have not been at a job with the fire service where I have run into my ambulance crew from Didcot, or vice versa, but it is bound to happen at some point when we are called to a road traffic accident.”

Mr Millsom’s previous jobs include driving heavy goods vehicles and recycling lorries, and working as a chef at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel, near Wallingford, and at the George Hotel in Wallingford.

But he said working for the emergency services was the most satisfying job.

He said: “I still get a real adrenaline rush when I get called out on a job with the fire service because I know I can make a big difference by helping to save someone’s life.

“If we respond quickly we prevent someone’s home from burning down – it can be devastating if people lose their possessions in a fire.

“It’s exciting when my pager goes off because you don’t know what the job is going to be until it comes off the printer at the fire station.

“I would recommend the job of retained firefighter to anyone.

“I get a similar feeling of satisfaction helping patients in my work with the ambulance service – if we respond quickly and transport patients to where they need to be that can make a big difference.”

Mr Millsom said he was the second-longest-serving retained firefighter at Wallingford behind Bob Mack from Wantage, who has done it for 32 years.

He added: “The only blue light car I haven’t driven is a police car, but it’s not going to happen – I would rather rush into a burning building.”

Tony Whiting, retained station support officer at Bampton, said: “Stuart is one of a number of retained officers who recently completed 25 years’ service and it’s an outstanding achievement.”

South Central Ambulance spokesman Michelle Ullett said: “It’s great to have a member of staff like Stuart who is passionate about working for both emergency services.”