They are trained to be able to handle any emergency.

But Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service could be forgiven for being somewhat unprepared when a man called to report a space ship on fire.

Or when one woman rang to report that there were chickens running down the road.

In a continued bid to drive down non-emergency calls, Hertfordshire County Council has revealed the strangest calls to its 999 control centre.

These include a person who called the service who was concerned that his favourite ‘mix tape’ was on fire.

Another caller explained that a sofa had been delivered and had got wedged in the door.

The service is reminding the public that, while always available in an emergency, firefighters should never be called to a toy helicopter being stuck in a tree, to remove a dead rat from the living room floor or to look for lost glasses.

Hertfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service received nearly 22,000 emergency calls last year.

They attended 2,439 fires and nearly 500 road traffic collisions as well as many other serious and life-threatening situations.

Roy Wilsher, chief fire officer, said: “Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, alongside colleagues in the police and ambulance service, is here to help but we are asking people not to call 999 unless it’s a real emergency.

"Such calls are a waste of time and are potentially blocking calls from people in genuine danger.”

Non-emergency calls should be made to 101.