A Fire engine is being shipped to one of the world’s remotest islands.

The Dennis Sabre vehicle has been donated by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to St Helena – a 47 square mile island in the South Atlantic Ocean with a population of just 5,000.

It was loaded onto Royal Mail ship St Helena, currently the only means of getting to the island, on September 30 at Portland and will arrive in 28 days’ time.

Darran Gunter, chief fire officer of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are very pleased to be able to offer this appliance to the people of St Helena. Dorset Fire and Rescue has a rolling replacement programme for our appliances and this replaced engine will now help fire crews of St Helena.”

The engine has valuable features to deal with the type of incidents firefighters attend on the island, including hydraulic cutting equipment, ladders and a light portable water pump.

Kedell Worboys, UK representative for St Helena, said: “We are delighted to be receiving this fire engine. Our current engines on the island don’t have a large water-carrying capacity. This new engine, with its 1800 litre capacity, will be greatly appreciated by the people and government of St Helena.”

Other essential goods have been sent on the long journey to the island, including windmill blades, 60 chicks and Christmas cards, gifts and puddings.

St Helena is an Overseas Territory of the UK with its own legislature and a high degree of internal self-government. It has less than 2,500 visitors a year and many say the island reminds them of the UK in the 1950s, with the majority of shops shutting on a Wednesday afternoon, friendly island spirit and similar red post vans.