POLICE, fire and paramedics will be working closely together – at times in the same vehicle – in a bid to keep a lid on any trouble this November 5.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue, North West Ambulance Service and Lancashire Police have said they will be providing a joint response in East Lancashire where they can assist with fires, casualties, road traffic collisions, assaults and medical emergencies.

A multi-agency vehicle will be used which will be crewed by trained commanders from fire, police and ambulance.

They will respond to incidents where the team can carry out joint assessments to determine the level of resources required.

The team is expected to go to any incident where it is anticipated at least two of the three services will be needed.

Neil Hardiman, service delivery manager at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “During high profile events such as Bonfire Night, the demand on emergency services tends to increase.

“Locally-based responders working together can provide lifesaving interventions at emergencies, and in some instances reduce the number of resources needed at a scene.”

The multi-agency vehicle has been used previously since it was trialled in 2017 and helped to free up vital time and resources for all three services.

It will be operating around East Lancashire on November 5 from 5pm until midnight.

Blackburn, East Lancashire and the Preston area have been identified as key areas for the fire service’s Bright Sparx bonfire campaign as a result of a large increase in anti-social behaviour in previous years.

Jason Eddings, operations manager for NWAS, who oversees the project from an ambulance perspective, said: “This is an excellent collaboration with our emergency service partners, and we’re really happy to see it happening again.

“If we can treat a patient at the scene and keep them from needing hospital treatment, that can free up vital resources, which can then attend to another potentially critically injured patient.”