Two RAF firefighters from Lincolnshire have been saving lives and braving extreme conditions in war-torn Afghanistan.

Lucy Tonge, 27, who is normally based at RAF Coningsby, has been evacuating seriously wounded casualties to Afghanistan's Bastion hospital.

It is her first operational experience which has seen her cope with severely traumatised patients and work quickly and effectively under pressure.

Speaking from the base in Camp Bastion, she described just one of the high-pressure situations she faces every day.

"A DC-8 aircraft burst its tyres on landing. This caused the runway to close and operations were temporarily suspended," she said.

"Given the severity of the impact and the extent of the damage, it meant that a simple wheel change was not possible.

"Heat had caused the tyre to fuse onto the metal drum so I had to cut into the tyre to enable a wheel change to be carried out – all of that with the engine still running."

She said that despite the hardships, one thing which has kept her going is messages from her friends back home.

"Once you get into a routine, the time flies past. Everyone here is in the same boat and we are like a big family, really," she said.

"I miss home but my friends and family have been amazing. Receiving mail really makes your day.

"I had spoken to a lot of people about what to expect out here so I had a bit of an insight. Nothing can prepare you for what you see while taking casualties off helicopters, but you remember that's why you're here. It's good to know I am doing a little something to help."

Ailsa Carruthers, 24, is also serving as a firefighter in the RAF, currently in Camp Bastion,

She is usually based at RAF Waddington as a senior aircraftswoman.

"I was expecting to get shot all the time and have rockets coming in, but that has not been the case at all," she said.

Ms Carruthers, who had dreamed of being a firefighter since being a toddler, became the shortest firefighter to join the Royal Air Force at just 5ft tall.

On being asked how she reached the firehose, she said: "I simply stand on the wheel arch.

"Maybe I watched too much London's Burning, but I have always known it's the job for me."

Chief fire officer Phil Walmsley is delighted with the performance of the women.

"Everyone has fitted in well to the operational environment and all have proved, without doubt, that they are highly capable," he said.