Fire and rescue service is on target

Notable successes achieved in the past 12 months include:

3,000 home fire risk assessments completed and 6,000 smoke alarms fitted.

Accidental house fires down by seven per cent and deliberate property fires down by 19 per cent.

Hoax calls down by 23 per cent.

County fire officer Barry Dixon said: "The service has changed its name and authorities have been given new powers to undertake duties that they previously carried out on a voluntary basis, such as attending road traffic accidents, improving public safety through work in the community and dealing with major emergencies such as flooding and acts of terrorism."