Wet weather fails to dampen a thrilling show of horse-drawn fire wagons.

Before the introduction of a national fire service in 1938, Wigan, like hundreds of towns and cities across the land, had its own municipal fire service. 'Turn-outs' were staged events to demonstrate to the local populace the swiftness of their brigade. In the early 1900s the steam-powered appliances seen here were gradually being replaced by internal combustion engines.

The Wigan Fire Brigade in action.