THE county's fire and rescue service has received a glowing report in an audit.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is performing strongly, according to assessors from the Audit Commission.

A team of staff, picked from other fire and rescue authorities, visited last October.

The report said: "North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has an innovative and embedded vision - 125 Alive."

The scheme seeks to ensure that 125 more people will be alive in the ten years to 2014 because of the fire service's work.

The report said: "This vision is supported and achieved through a notable business management framework and improvement planning process.

"These processes include the mapping of risk and the re- assessment of risk due to risk reduction activities - be it prevention, protection or intervention.

"As a result, the service was found to be performing strongly in relation to risk analysis, and prevention and protection."

It said the service was performing well in the areas of being prepared, call management and emergency response.

"Overall, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service provides an effective, well-managed and focused service, which efficiently concentrates resources to reduce the level of risk in the community," the report said.

During the audit, assessors interviewed staff and senior managers, visited fire stations, reviewed documents and spoke to organisations which have dealt with the service.