Leading Northumberland councillors have shot down a suggestion from one of the region's top firefighters to merge three North East fire and rescue services.
Tyne and Wear’s retiring chief fire officer, Chris Lowther, called for a major reorganisation of emergency services in the North East that would see Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service merged with the Tyne and Wear and Durham and Darlington brigades.
However, speaking at Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's cabinet, council leader Glen Sanderson said he would "never agree" to a merger.
