THE man responsible for emergency planning decisions in Lancashire, Mike Wagstaff, has retired after 17 years with the county council.

Chief emergency planning officer Mike joined the emergency planning section of Lancashire County Council in 1985, after 27 years' service with the armed forces.

During his time with emergency planning he has seen the department move from mainly dealing with civil defence to a service which aims to prepare for, and respond to, civil emergencies affecting the people and environment of Lancashire.

For much of his time in the army he was a tutor in International Relations and Strategic Studies, his final appointment being the military representative in the Department of Politics and Economics at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

One of the highlights of his time with the council was preparing to receive and accommodate 300 Kosovan refugees in 1999.

He said: "Since I became the principal emergency planning officer in 1996, the number and variety of emergency incidents has increased, emphasising the need to be thoroughly prepared for whatever eventuality arises."

He aims to spend part of his retirement each year beachcombing with his wife, Sheila, in the Mediterranean.

His post will be filled by Bernard Kershaw, who comes to the council from Lancashire Constabulary.