THE country's first female fire chief executive has been appointed in County Durham.

Susan Johnson is also the country's first non-uniformed person to lead a fire and rescue service.

In her new role with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority, she will oversee a budget of more than £27m and 690 employees and be responsible for delivering community safety to more than 500,000 people.

John Quigley, outgoing chairman of the authority, said: "I congratulate Susan as the first woman and non-uniform appointment to lead such a service.

"Over the past five years, we have had an ambitious programme of modernisation to meet the increasing expectations of Government and communities to reduce death and injury from fire and other incidents as well as to develop a wider role for community safety, arson reduction and preparing for civil emergencies.

"Her formidable business experience will provide invaluable expertise in this role."

Ms Johnson said she was looking forward to the challenge of her new job.

"We have to provide communities with a professional and effective service which embraces change and meets the challenges of community safety in an increasingly complex world," she said.

Ms Johnson, who holds a first-class honours degree in business studies and an MBA from Durham University, spent 14 years in marketing for a number of top companies.

In 1998 she was appointed chief executive of the Northern Business Forum, moving to regional agency Yorkshire Forward in 2000 as executive director of business development.

In 2000 she was made an OBE for services to New Deal in the North-East.

Ms Johnson's appointment follows the retirement of brigade manager George Herbert after 31 years' service with fire and rescue in the North-East.

Pictured: Susan Johnson,

who has a degree

in business studies