LANCASHIRE Fire and Rescue Service’s next chief fire officer will be current deputy Justin Johnston.

The 46-year-old will officially takeover on May 1 when the existing postholder Chris Kenny retires.

Mr Johnston said: “It is a fantastic honour for me to be appointed chief fire officer of a strongly-performing fire and rescue service.

"I will look to build on the outstanding contribution made by Chris Kenny.

"I aspire for the service to be the best trained, best equipped, best accommodated and most professional fire and rescue service in the country.

"With our dedicated and hardworking staff we will continue working to make Lancashire safer.”

In his free time, Mr Johnston enjoys fell and trail running and has completed numerous long distances running challenges

He joined the Lancashire service as deputy chief fire officer from its Cumbria counterpart in October 2012 where he was assistant chief fire officer.

Mr Johnston originally joined Essex County Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in January 1995 and left in 2008 to join Cumbria as an area manager.

Chair of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, Cllr Frank de Molfetta, says: “Justin has been highly valued since becoming the deputy chief fire officer in September 2012.

"His innovation and leadership has played a key role in Lancashire achieving an ‘Outstanding’ for cultures and values in the recent inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

"I wish him well in his future role.”

Mr Kenny, 59, has been chief fire officer for seven years.