WORK is under way to give Cleveland firefighters a new corporate image.
Four North-East fire brigades agreed earlier this year to adopt the same uniform to present a corporate identity for the service.
Tomorrow Cleveland Fire Authority is likely to give final approval for the replacement of the existing firefighters' kit with the new uniform.
In a report the cost of the new protective equipment and uniform is revealed as less than continually replacing existing kit.
Chief fire officer John Doyle said: "Currently, 50 per cent of the brigade's firefighting tunics are in excess of seven years of age.
"It is therefore considered expedient to replace one set of firefighting kit in order to provide increased protection to the firefighters."
If agreed it is hoped all fire brigade staff will have the new uniforms by 2005, at a total cost of £1,066,939.
The fire authority's executive committee will be asked to agree to expenditure on the new uniforms at a meeting tomorrow.
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