New hovercraft for water rescues

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue will receive two new hovercraft in response to the devastating floods of 2007.

A hovercraft borrowed from Italy was used to access people in flood-hit areas in the county.

The service will receive the craft at the International Fire Exhibition in Liverpool.

Terry Standing, chief fire officer, said the service was confident the hovercraft would be a "significant tool" in water and mud flat rescues.

Severn Trent has funded the two hovercraft, which cost £110,000.