The UK's Avon Fire and Rescue may add a helicopter to its fleet to enhance response and efficiency in and around its South Gloucestershire catchment area. The service says: "The helicopter would transport specialist equipment and firefighters to incidents such as road accidents and chemical spills.

"Using a helicopter could create quicker response times than the current four rescue tenders used by the service."

Rescue tenders were called to 818 road traffic accidents and nearly 800 other incidents last year and the service is conducting a feasibility study to assess the viability of air support. "Presented with a difficult economic climate where our spending is scrutinised more than ever before, the study reflects our need to explore how we can best deliver our services, as cost effectively as possible.

"This study goes beyond the toys for boys mentality and could provide us with an innovative, realistic way to move specialist equipment and firefighters quickly to incidents, depending on the nature of the call," the service says.

Initial feedback suggests it would costs £800,000 a year to run a helicopter 24-7 including piloting, fuel and maintenance. "It could also be shared with other fire and rescue services to cut down costs," the Avon service says.