Firefighters' uniforms through the ages

1780: An 18th-century firefighter Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1890: Two London firefighters pose Photograph: James Valentine/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1899: Firefighters attending a fire on Bread Street in the City Photograph: London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1900: A group of firefighters during a training session Photograph: Sean Sexton/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1902: Fire service personnel sit on board London's first motorised fire engine Photograph: Rischgitz/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1903: A poster advertising the International Fire Exhibition at Earl's Court, London Photograph: Transcendental Graphics/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1925: Firefighters attend to their breathing apparatus as the Dominion rubber works burns in Farringdon Street, London Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1926: A member of the Achille Serre Ladies fire brigade in London Photograph: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1934: London firefighters wear the new and old versions of their headgear. On the left are the new leather helmets, which were safer and lighter than the brass ones Photograph: J A Hampton/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1965: Fire service personnel at the site of the Bowaters packaging factory fire in Croydon, south London Photograph: Boyle/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1987: Firefighters at a King's Cross blaze in London in which 31 people died Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

1999: New London fire brigade uniform Photograph: Richard Gardner/Rex Features

2002: Blue Watch firefighters' uniforms at the ready for the next call at Brentwood fire station in Essex Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

2002: Firefighters' uniforms at Brentwood fire station Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

2009: Firefighters during the launch of the new uniform at Lincoln cathedral, Lincoln Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Figherfighters pose in and in front of a fire engine during the launch of the new uniform Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

The new uniform will be rolled out across the country Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA