FIRE chiefs in North Yorkshire have called in police to investigate their transport department over “unusual working practices”.

Fraud officers have launched an inquiry into North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service’s Northallerton-based section which deals with the maintenance of its vehicles, following an independent audit last year.

An internal disciplinary inquiry is also being carried out alongside the police investigation. Fire service spokesman Peter Hudson said: “As a result of an independent audit, we asked North Yorkshire Police to investigate these irregularities at our transport and workshop section in Northallerton.

“As far as we’re concerned, an independent audit highlighted some unusual working practices. The police investigation is ongoing and there is an internal investigation, which is subject to an appeals process, which is also ongoing. We are not at liberty to give details at the moment.”

A police spokesman said their investigation was in the “early stages” and the matter was raised with them at the start of December.

No arrests have been made.