YORKSHIRE clergy have joined forces to produce a major incident plan to be used in the event of a disaster.

United Reformed, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Church of England churches have come together to produce the plan, which is to be launched at Bishopthorpe Palace, York, the home of the Archbishop of York, tomorrow. The plan will ensure the churches' response to a major disaster is prompt, appropriate and co-ordinated.

It will work with the North Yorkshire Emergency Co-ordination Committee's Joint Emergency Response Major Incident Procedures.

Church personnel will be deployed in line with emergency and other support personnel, to ensure that their skills in pastoral support for victims, families and rescuers can be made widely available.

A spokesman for the diocese of York said: "The key to the plan is a structure of authority and communication not normally associated with churches, but ready for use in conjunction with highly-organised secular agencies including fire and rescue, police, medical and social services.

"It integrates the churches into the county's emergency response procedures, ensuring that their Christian ministry can be exercised within the response framework rather than in spite of it."

The plan will also include advice on dealing with people of other faiths, dealing with media interest and ensuring the welfare of church personnel.

Liaison among the churches and with the other agencies has been led by Colin Sheppard, diocesan secretary of the Church of England's Diocese of York, and a former assistant chief constable with experience of emergency and disaster planning.

He said: "The North Yorkshire Churches' Major Incident Plan is a flexible blueprint to be adapted to the needs of any incident, large or small.

"Not every detail will always apply - but it gives a broad outline which should shape the churches' response in any situation."