A NEW fast response vehicle was launched yesterday to help firefighters deal with incidents which may harm the environment.

The vehicle, which is equipped to deal with calls to incidents such as a chemical spill, will replace the converted lorry that Cleveland Fire Brigade previously relied on.

The £100,000 environment vehicle, which will be used by fire crews throughout the brigade area in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool, is also equipped to decontaminate anyone at an incident who may come into contact with a harmful substance.

Kenneth Leonard, chairman of Cleveland Fire Authority, said: "The old vehicle attended almost 600 incidents in the five years it was in service."

Craig McGarvey, of the Environment Agency, said: "We were delighted to help fund this vital project. We helped establish the original environment protection unit in 1999, and this new vehicle will help the brigade to continue its role in the protection of the local community and environment."