THE York Rescue Boat charity will pass a major milestone today, when it signs a Memorandum of Understanding with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The MOU outlines in detail how the charity will work alongside the fire service when incidents occur, and shows a confidence in the charity, which was set up about 18 months ago.

York station manager Paul Bennett said he had been liaising with the rescue boat founder Dave Benson since he first suggested the service, and had shared operating procedures and guidance with him, gained by the fire service's operation of a boat for more than 20 years.

Station manager Bennett said the agreement - which they also have with military, volunteer organisations and neighbouring services - would mean they could work alongside the charity on live incidents.

He said: "When they're on the river and get an incident, whether he sees it or gets a call about it, he will inform us and attend, and our control will make a call as to whether we will attend. Likewise, if we receive a 999 call and we know Dave's team is on the river, control will notify him as well.

"We fully support anything that would improve river safety, but before we enter into an agreement like that we have to be confident we're dealing with a service that's professional in its undertaking, which they have demonstrated. We had to be confident his training, supervision, management and equipment was up to standard."

Mr Benson said: "The MOU between York Rescue Boat and the fire service is a huge milestone in our development, and this operational and training agreement will allow for a more coordinated relationship between ourselves and fire and rescue. Prior to going operational the YRB volunteers have undergone various levels of training to a nationally recognised standard that will allow us to provide the best service to the public complementing the great work the statutory authorities do.

"This year we will be improving on these high standards by putting many of our volunteers through the DEFRA swift and flood water rescue levels 3, 4 and 5, allowing us to maximise our command and control and perform the most technical rescues when required. Our volunteers are fully committed to meeting any required standard set by the statutory authorities, and we thank the fire and rescue service for their assistance in our internal development to achieve this memorandum of understanding."

Station manager Bennett said the agreement meant they were working towards "a seamless, joined up approach which will hopefully mean the best outcome in any future incidents".