In between fighting fires and attending road crashes, firefighters from Waterlooville are taking time out of their schedule to visit Lucy Hooper.

Lucy, 29, beamed with delight as the firefighters pulled up in a fire engine at The Rowans Hospice in Purbrook.

She was wheeled out in her bed to the fire engine and got the chance to inspect the appliance and its equipment, including a thermal imaging camera and hose reels.

A firefighter even dressed in a chemical protection suit for Lucy.

The surprise visit came as another boost for Lucy, who, as reported in The News, had her dreams come true when firefighters visited the hospice and sang her Happy Birthday.

Since then the firefighters have been visiting Lucy every week for a chat and a cup of tea, as well as giving Lucy her own personal tour of a fire engine.

Lucy is suffering from an inoperable brain tumour which was discovered 12 years ago. It has been getting progressively bigger every year. After 21 operations, doctors say they are not able to remove the tumour, which is in the middle of her brain.

Craig Sadler, 36, watch manager at Waterlooville, said: 'It broke our hearts really. We go down just to see how she is because she's a lovely girl.

'It's good keep up that bond with her.'

Kevin Lloyd-Spencer, who works at Cosham but is a retained firefighter for Waterlooville, said: 'We are more than happy to oblige to help someone who is really struggling and give her a bit of enjoyment in the latter years of her life.'

Lucy mum's, Trudy, 53, of Compton Road, North End, Portsmouth, said: 'It has really cheered her up. It's a lovely thing for the firefighters to do and they are great guys.'

Trudy said she and her husband Martin, 57, were holding a round-the-clock bedside vigil.

She said: 'We are just taking every day as it comes.

'Lucy never complains. She still has a great sense of humour.'