REDDITCH firefighters are soon to be equipped with technology which will help them deal more safely with every situation they encounter.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade is to equip all its front line fire engines with the latest onboard computerised information system.

The new "second generation" equipment, costing £300,000, will replace the existing system the brigade has had for five years.

It has been designed to provide firefighters with an easy-to-use touch-screen system that will enable them to prepare and plan for what they may find while travelling to an incident.

The system provides two-way mobile data communication with fire control operators, giving access to a wide range of operational information.

The brigade will start a three-month programme to re-equip all its 43 front line fire engines with the mobile data system in January after the official launch of the equipment at the brigade training centre in Droitwich today.