North End welcomed a number of African trainees on Wednesday morning - but before the rumour mill heads in to overdrive, we must point out that none of them are likely to be signing up for first team duty any time soon!

Instead, a group of six Nigerian firefighters braved the chill of a January day in Lancashire to use Deepdale as an ideal example of stadium health and safety in the UK.

On a cold morning in Preston, the half dozen strong team from the Nigerian Federal Fire Service were given a guided tour of the stadium and its inner workings by PNE's ground safety officer Dave Shepherd as part of a week-long course based at the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's Washington Hall base in Euxton.

The firefighters from the country's largest city, Lagos, and capital Abuja, have been visiting different types of buildings for health and safety guidance throughout their stay in Lancashire, with Deepdale selected for their viewing as a fitting example of a top-class sports stadium.

Despite the fact that the group will head home with chilly memories of the weather conditions at Deepdale, hopefully they will head home with news of a warm welcome from the Club, and may well help to spread the PNE word in the most populous country in Africa, having each been presented with a PNE gift to take home to the west African state.

Pictured above are the six firefighters from the Nigerian Federal Fire Service and their trainer from Washington Hall, Mick Angland.