Fire crews flex their muscles for East Preston’s Iona-May

But these kind-hearted firefighters certainly put their brawn to the test when they did their bit to renovate a disabled seven-year-old girl’s East Preston home – efforts which will soon be featured on the Channel 4 programme Double Your House for Half the Money.

Seven crew members from the village fire station and from Worthing’s volunteered to take part in the facelift of Iona-May Thorne’s home, with the task of manoeuvring a 700kg steel girder into place.

And it was no easy task, admitted East Preston firefighter Amanda Mays.

“It was a bit of a beast to move into place,” she explained. “Where the property is was fairly tight on space.

“We had to manoeuvre it down the garden and swing it around before we could place it between the temporary supports. It took all of us, including some of the builders on site, about 30 minutes to do.”

Television crews recorded the team while they carried out the work on the ground floor of the house – which is being completely rebuilt under the watchful gaze of the programme’s presenter, Sarah Beeny.

The involvement of the fire crews was all part of a community drive, promoted by the property show, to get as many people to volunteer with the work, which could cost between £60-70,000.

It is hoped that the new additions to the home, which include a wet room, sensory room, new bedroom and hoist system to help Iona-May – who suffers with quadriplegic cerebral palsy – will dramatically improve her quality of life.

Amanda added: “We love doing what we can to help out in the community. It’s nice to know we have been able to help this little girl.”

This week, a team from The Body Shop is lending a hand stripping wallpaper.

A group from HSBC Bank will also be doing their bit, next week.

Iona-May’s mum, Vicki, wished to thank everyone who has so far helped out with the project.