CLEVELAND Fire Brigade is to order new equipment thanks to a donation from the Environment Agency.

The agency has presented the brigade with £59,000, which is needed to replace its ageing Environment Protection Unit.

It means the brigade can order a new specially designed vehicle next month, which will be delivered later this year.

Making the presentation, Bob Pailor, the agency's environment protection manager, said: "The existing unit has been used on many occasions and has been very useful in preventing pollution, but it has now come to the end of its useful life.

"This partnership approach to dealing with environmental issues benefits us all," he said.