A mother who used to drive her firefighter son to his station in the middle of the night has become an honorary member of his crew.

Whenever Trudy Boyle’s son Jed was called out to an emergency at night she would don her fluffy pink dressing gown and start the car as he got into his uniform.

She would then drive him to Banbury Fire Station to join his colleagues.

Jed, 20, of Browning Road, is one of 16 retained firefighters based at the fire station, but until recently he was the only one who had not passed his driving test.

By day he used his bicycle to get to the station when his pager went off, but at night he relied on his mother for transport.

In recognition of her “outstanding nocturnal service to the community of Banbury” Mrs Boyle has been made an honorary member of the town’s retained fire crew.

Jed joined the fire service in December 2008 and since then Mrs Boyle has lost count of the number of nights she has been woken up by her son’s alarm.

She would jump out of bed, grab her keys and within five minutes the pair would be at the station in Cope Road.

Mrs Boyle, 44, a personal assistant and office manager, said: “His bleeper would wake me up. I had to go down there in pyjamas and my lovely pink dressing gown.

“Sometimes I could get back to sleep, but it depended what time it was. I did start off going back to pick him up, but recently the lads had dropped him home.

“I’m used to it now, so it doesn’t really bother me, but it’s nothing compared to what they cope with.

“Jed has wanted to be a firefighter since he was eight. I’m really proud of him.”

Last week, Jed and his colleagues surprised Mrs Boyle with a certificate setting out her new role.

The special post was authorised by the county’s Chief Fire Officer John Parry.

She said: “I was really chuffed. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

All 16 Banbury retained firefighters turned out to honour Mrs Boyle.

Watch Manager Darran Gough said: “You can’t do this job without the backing of your partner, husband or wife.

“But to have the backing of your mum is great.

“All she’s asking now is to have a go on a run.

“We all would like to thank Trudy very much for her help over the past few years and wish her many undisturbed nights now, so long as Jed doesn't slam the door as he responds.”

Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger communities said: “It’s a shining example of the vital role played by family, friends, employers and colleagues in enabling our retained fire crews to respond to emergency calls day and night.”

Jed passed his driving test last month and now borrows his mother’s car to drive himself to late-night call-outs.