A COUNTY-wide shake-up of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen the brigade restructured along local authority lines.

The intention has been to give the service a new streamlined look and help it to respond to calls more effectively.

The existing 11 operational areas have been redrawn to provide eight larger areas which align to the local council boundaries.

The eight new areas will be grouped into pairs of districts: - Craven and Harrogate, Richmond and Hambleton, Selby and York and Ryedale and Scarborough.

Four of the brigade's most senior officers will manage the delivery of local services to communities throughout the county.

Their responsibilities will include the development of existing partnerships with other emergency services and council officers, improving local consultation with members of their communities and supporting front-line firefighters.

Chief Fire Officer Eric Clark said: "The new structure has been designed to respond more effectively to the needs of the public, and our main business partners, as we strive to safeguard the community from fire and other emergencies.

"Local fire stations will continue to provide firefighting and rescue services to their existing operational areas and the transition to the new structure will be completely seamless."

Members of the public who need advice on fire service matters should call at their local Fire Station or call (01609) 780150.