FAT people who need assistance, victims of domestic flooding and those locked out of their homes could receive an altogether different response from firefighters in future.

Officials from Cheshire Fire Brigade have just conducted a review of how they will respond to various regular calls which the service receives.

Fire chiefs will still attend calls where obese people need rescuing - or there is a risk of serious illness.

But for any other incidents involving the lifting, carrying and removal of overweight people, a charge will be made to the agency requesting assistance.

Because of limited resources, people falling victim to domestic flooding incidents will usually only be advised where their stop tap is located.

People who are locked either in or out of property will be charged for the attendance of a fire crew - except in emergency circumstances.

Fire chiefs will still attend reports of people stuck in lifts - but will monitor locations for repeat offenders.

The service has also identified a number of other perils - such as reported gas leaks, an unidentified smell of petrol or clearing up after a road traffic collision - which would be routinely referred to another agency.

Firefighters currently also have a policy of not recovering dead bodies from waterways.

But this could be reviewed under a national consultation exercise, which is likely to see water rescue and recovery become a core part of fire brigades' work.

Under no circumstances will the fire service be loaning out their equipment, because of training worries and insurance considerations.

l The fire service can charge up to £290 per hour for the attendance of a standard fire appliance.