FEARS over the effects of the Millennium Bug may have helped the emergency services when it came to responding to the fuel crisis.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade says it was able to offer fuel support to the Ambulance service from its reserves and benefit from close ties established in the run up to the Millennium.

"One of the benefits of the planning that went on 12 months ago in advance of Year 2K, was a lot of work went on with the emergency services in respect to planning mutual aid and who should do what, when and where," said spokesman Alec Mackie.

The fire brigade has been unaffected by the crisis as it held a stock of 29,000 litres of diesel, which Mr Mackie said is "enough to last us in normal circumstances a couple of months.

"We made arrangements with colleagues in the ambulance service who were experiencing problems so they could tap into our supply, which they did."

Mr Mackie said the only one problem the brigade was facing was its retained crews having enough fuel in their personal vehicles to get to stations to answer calls, but arrangements have been put in place to supply them if necessary.

He also publicly thanked petrol station owners who had contacted the brigade with offers of supply.

"We were very impressed with some of the petrol station people who were kind enough to let us know that they would be prepared to keep some should we need it," he said.