Bizarre inventions are a speciality for John Ward – and now he’s got the perfect thing for small fires.
It’s a Reliant Robin fire engine and comes complete with a ladder, eight jets and a small hose.
“It’s a small hose because we only do small fires,” says John. “I can carry 50 litres of water and I can turn it into a water feature at the flick of a switch.”
John, from Moulton Seas End, has appeared on TV worldwide with eccentric inventions from a bra warmer to a mobile church font.
He bought the Reliant Robin for a friend, but the deal fell through and he was left wondering what to do with a tiny red vehicle when the idea of a fire engine popped into his head.
John took six months to do the conversion – finding spare minutes between other jobs – and it had its first official outing at Boston Bike Night a few days ago, where it was a sensation.
Admirers donated cash at John’s suggestion to Spalding and Holbeach Macmillan Cancer Support and now he plans to collect for the charity by taking the Reliant Robin – which is road legal – to local fetes.
Named “Freddie the Fire Engine”, the vehicle is part of Little Berning Fire Brigade – another product of John’s inventive mind – and can be booked at littleberningfirebrigade@gmail.com