A laser device and a method of pumping a laser gain medium (R) comprise directing pulses of laser light from a pump laser (10) to a series of separate locations (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) arranged longitudinally along the gain medium (R) in the direction of laser propagation. Each pulse of laser light generates a population inversion in an associated portion of the gain medium (R) just ahead of the laser photons. The pulses from the pump laser (10) are transmitted by a splitter (18) to the series of separate locations by optical delay lines (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) and each delay line is arranged to pump a different portion of the gain medium to cause a localised population inversion. The pulse transmission delays deliver a sequence of pulses to the portions of the gain medium (R) such that each portion will in turn contribute to amplification of a laser propagating within the gain medium (R).