PC Wood lifted the young, skinny halfwit into the air and put him down behind the perimeter, shouting at him to shut up and follow instructions.

Noah Longbottom, meanwhile, had come to see what was going on. He watched the firemen work with discipline and resolution and suddenly felt the strong desire to be as heroic as them. These men seemed to know what they were doing. Everyone admired them. They were useful. Maybe he should apply to be a fireman as well!

Then his eyes met a group of young fisherman from the Cragg looking on. One of them spotted him, said something to another and nodded in his direction. Noah's courage melted like snow before a print house fire, and he moved closer to where a constable was guarding the perimeter.