A CAMPAIGN by North Yorkshire fire chiefs to reverse proposed cuts in Government funding was today backed by MPs in the county.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, which is set to receive below-inflation increases in its grant over the next three years, is encouraging residents to throw their weight behind the campaign.

The authority will get an increase of just one per cent in the coming financial year, and faces a rise of only 0.5 per cent per year in the following two years - with other authorities getting increases as high as 8.5 per cent.

Its members said the authority would do everything it could to ensure front line services were not cut, but said this could be tough if the full three years' cuts were not reversed.

Phil Willis, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: "This is an authority which is already the leanest and fittest fire authority in Britain.

"Given the size of the county and the three major population centres in Harrogate, York and Scarborough it really is a first-class service and to cut it further means we're going to cut into the structure and that puts my constituents' lives at risk.

"If there is a tragedy in North Yorkshire it will be laid fairly and squarely at the doors of the Govern-ment.

"Not only do I support the campaign, I endorse it whole-heartedly."

Selby MP John Grogan said fire chiefs were "absolutely right" to flag up the difficulties that might be faced in future years.

He said: "I'll obviously do anything I can to support their campaign.

"I'm sure my parliamentary colleagues across North Yorkshire will all cooperate as we did on the issue of police funding last year."

Mr Grogan said there seemed to be no clear reason why some areas similar to North Yorkshire had enjoyed much greater increases in their fire budgets than the county had.

City of York MP Hugh Bayley said: "I'd like the chief fire officer to come and see me and if the situation is as bleak as he suggests I'll certainly make representations to the minister."

Meanwhile Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, said she had already been supporting the campaign following a meeting with fire chiefs.

She said the funding proposals did not recognise the large rural area the fire authority had to cover.

"We've got one of the best services in the country - they are recognised as being totally committed and dedicated to their work," she said.

"It must be a real blow to their morale - the fire service people on the ground - seeing that others are getting such a big increase."

The news comes after we reported yesterday how City of York councillor Ken King, who is vice-chairman of the authority, said the 0.5 per cent increases going ahead would be a "serious blow" to the fire service.