LIFE-saving cutting equipment will soon be carried on all fire engines in Lancashire.

Fire chiefs are investing £360,000 to make sure their entire fleet will carry specialist tools mainly used to free people trapped in cars after road accidents.

Until now, the county's four Incident Support Units and just over half of its 76 fire engines carry the equipment.

As manufacturers make vehicles more crash resistant, it has become harder for emergency services to gain access to free people.

More and more tools, including hydraulic cutters and spreaders, are transported to crash scenes, and a special tool is needed to remove a bonded windscreen whereas a knife was used in the past to cut the rubber moulding.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Holland said: "We use a variety of techniques and equipment to ensure the speedy and sure extraction of people trapped in crashed vehicles and it is essential that we keep abreast of developments in automotive technology to maintain our ability to save lives.

"As a rescuer, the shock of seeing the aftermath of a terrible accident is only exceeded by the sheer relief of knowing that your actions have ensured the casualties will pull through.

"Making that happen depends on the skill of firefighters and medical teams, and on the life-saving equipment at their disposal."