FIREFIGHTERS in Cheshire have been given vital funds to tackle possible terrorist attacks.

The Government has promised an additional £71,400 to enable Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service to save people from collapsed buildings and undertake mass decontamination of the public.

Improving mass decontamination and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capabilities is part of the Government’s £1billion investment to equip fire services to deal with major incidents such as terrorism, industrial accidents or extreme weather.

The new funding covers the costs of protective clothing and replacement of oxygen and supplies needed to simulate real-life situations in training.

It will also pay for support and training for search dog teams and mass decontamination training for firefighters for when large numbers of people need to have hazardous substances washed off them quickly.

Fire minister Sadiq Khan said: “It is vitally important that our Fire and Rescue Service is able to practice for the unexpected event that we all hope will never happen.”