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 streamline the service to help it 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 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 partnerships with other emergency services and council officers, improving consultation with 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."

Anyone needing advice on fire service matters should call Harrogate/Craven (01423) 504082, York/Selby (01904) 616100, Richmond/Hambleton (01609) 780150 and Ryedale /Scarborough (01723) 374433.