A FREE fire safety advice line has been introduced in Lancashire.

The service is intended to ensure no caller is put off asking for advice by worrying about cost.

Fire control staff who deal with 999 calls will also offer safety advice, with the aim of preventing fires in the first place.

The scheme is backed by Slough-based communications company O2 Airwave, which has donated equipment and £7,000 towards publicity. It's digital radio equipment is already used by the fire service.

Posters highlighting the new number, 0800 169 1125, will adorn all Lancashire's fire engines, to make homeowners and businesses aware of the freephone service.

Lancashire chief fire officer Peter Holland said: "Our firefighters do their utmost to save lives. But prevention is a far better course of action and we'd much rather people knew how to avoid fires in the first place.

x"We're immensely grateful to O2 Airwave for supporting this initiative, which removes any possible reason for people not to seek lifesaving advice or to book a free home safety check."

He said people sometimes made 999 calls in non-emergency situations, to ask for fire safety advice. The new freephone number offered a much better arrangement.

Peter Richardson, O2 Airwave managing director, said: "Airwave is about promoting public safety through good, reliable communications technology. That's why we were absolutely delighted when Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service approached us for support. This is a great initiative which we hope really does help save lives."

Calls to the freephone number will be dealt with by fire control staff at the service's Fulwood HQ, at Preston. They handle all Lancashire 999 calls in Lancashire, and will ensure callers get clear, expert advice.

The new fire engine posters emphasises that, all too often, the youngest and most vulnerable in society are endangered by fire.

They show five-year-old Victoria, daughter of fire service photographer Henry Sung, in the arms of firefighter Erica Crockford.

Victoria shared top billing with her firefighter rescuers in a dramatically-staged rescue to mark the freephone launch at Chorley.