THOUSANDS of people were left without fire cover after a recruitment shortage left a rural fire station unmanned.

A decision by fire chiefs to leave Stanhope Fire Station without any cover for a night has sparked an outcry by one local councillor.

But Chief Fire Officer for Darlington and County Durham George Herbert said that he was left with no choice after both Crook and Stanhope were left without crews.

Instead a crew was transferred from Consett and based in Crook after both Crook and Stanhope stations, usually manned by retained firefighters, suffered a staffing crisis a week and a half ago.

Firefighters were not on strike at the time.

Mr Herbert said: "Both of those fire stations are retained fire stations and on this occasion both Stanhope and Crook crews had other work commitments. We had to make a decision that would meet the cover needs of both communities so we sent the fire crew to Crook. I am not making the point that this is acceptable but we are currently limited in the amount of resources we have and we have to do the best with what is available."

But Councillor John Shuttleworth, who represents Stanhope on Durham County Council, said he should have been consulted.

He said: "The fact that the nearest fire crew was in Crook is just not acceptable. I am told it would take around 40 to 45 minutes for the crew from Crook to get to Stanhope, but what about if something were to happen at St John's Chapel. The people up there would not stand a chance. If George Herbert thinks he can get away with doing this on a regular basis he will have a fight on his hands.''

Coun Shuttleworth's concerns have been backed by the local secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Brian Boyle, who said he was appalled that Stanhope Station had been left without a crew.

He said: "I have never known a time when Stanhope has been left without cover. The public are entitled to a fire engine at that station. It is as simple as that. By leaving it without a pump goes totally against the standards of fire cover required."