WARRINGTON residents are being urged to sign up and have their say on Cheshire Fire Service.

A residents' consultation panel has been launched for people to air their views on what they would like to see from the fire service.

It is hoped 600 people will sign up to take part by August.

Around 2,500 initial questionnaires will be sent out.

Residents who join the panel will be asked to take part in consultations by completing up to four postal or online questionnaires a year or by taking part in discussion groups.

The results will be displayed on the fire service's website - cheshirefire.gov.uk - and in a dedicated newsletter.

Chief Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are inviting residents join the consultation panel to give us suggestions on future policies and proposals.

"We hope members of the panel will give us honest and meaningful feedback and we can assure anyone who applies that we will treat their responses in strict confidence."

The questionnaire will take a short time to complete and will include a question and answers leaflet. Those taking part will receive a pre-paid return envelope for convenience.

The closing date for returns is Monday, July 24. Everyone who fills in a questionnaire will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £100 in high street shopping vouchers. The prize draw for the vouchers will held be on Friday, August 4.