Museum provides fire strike cover

Fire crews at the museum available in an emergency

A specialist fire crew from the Yorkshire Air Museum will provide emergency cover for part of the county during next week's strikes.

The Elvington museum's rescue team have cutting equipment that could be used at a serious road accident.

The move follows fears that the nine Green Goddesses in operation during the strike would not be able to handle a major incident.

The museum's rapid response vehicle willl be available for the A64 and possibly the A19 to Selby.

Limited service

Museum director Ian Reed said: "There is no way we can offer anything like the capability that the county, or even a small fire station can offer.

"We are not a domestic fire service."

"But we have two fire pumps, we have some expertise, and we have tens of thousands of pounds worth of specialist equipment.

"We are putting that to the availability of the county and district to be used as they see fit.

"If we can help in any way, we will do so."

Some fire engines will be on hand in rural parts of North Yorkshire because they are staffed by members of the Retained Firefighters Union which is not taking part in the strike.

Fire cover will be co-ordinated from the police control at Newby Wiske and county council offices in Northallerton.

The first in the series of planned strike days is Tuesday 29 October.