People who live or work in Essex are being asked for their views to help form the county’s first ever Fire and Rescue Plan.

Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, is developing a Fire and Rescue Plan that will run from 2019 to 2024.

It will determine the service's priorities for the five year period.

From November 20 to January 15 a consultation window is open in which the public is urged to rate the fire service's objectives and provide comment.

Mr Hirst said: “A safe and secure county is what we all need to live our lives in peace and prosperity. We need a plan for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service which ensures we can help people to stay safe, reduce the number who are killed or seriously injured and minimise the damage to property and businesses.

“I am developing this plan with input from all of those groups and individuals who work in, alongside and with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. I now want to make sure the priorities being proposed reflect what the people of Essex expect from their fire and rescue service.”

To fill in the survey go to www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/fire-rescue-plan-2019-2024-public-survey or email pfcc@essex.pnn.police.uk to request a hard copy.