ANOTHER emergency service could be taking to the skies of South Gloucestershire.

Avon Fire and Rescue are reportedly looking into the feasibility of adding a helicopter to its fleet.

The fire service is apparently considering a helicopter for transporting specialist equipment and firefighters to incidents such as road accidents and chemical spills.

Using a helicopter could create quicker response times than the current four rescue tenders used by the service.

Last year, the rescue tenders were called to 818 road traffic accidents and nearly 800 other incidents. A rescue tender is different to the service's 38 pump appliances that carry water and are used to fight fires.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Avon Fire and Rescue Service is currently conducting a feasibility study to assess the viability of air support.

"Presented with a difficult economic climate where our spending is scrutinised more than ever before, the study reflects our need to explore how we can best deliver our services, as cost effectively as possible.

"This study goes beyond the toys for boys mentality and could provide us with an innovative, realistic way to move specialist equipment and firefighters quickly to incidents, depending on the nature of the call.

"The financial climate is forcing everyone in the public sector to think outside the box and find new ways of delivering services at reduced cost. This study reflects thinking that goes beyond merely doing what we have always done."

No costs have been confirmed by the fire service but it is believed a helicopter would cost £800,000 a year to run, and that would include the cost of a pilot, fuel and maintenance so the helicopter would be on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It could also be shared with other fire and rescue services, such as South Wales, in order to cut down costs.

The fire helicopter would probably be based at Filton along with the Avon and Somerset Police helicopter and the Great Western Air Ambulance.

A business case on the proposals is expected to be presented to the Avon Fire Authority later in the year.