FIREFIGHTERS are among the few true modern heroes. They are prepared, day in and day out, to put their lives on the line to save others. It is the major fires that make the headlines. But that is just a small part of their job.

Firefighters are also among the first on the scene at serious road accidents, saving victims’ lives by cutting them free from the wreckage. They see things the rest of us cannot even imagine.

They also have a major role to play in helping prevent accidents and fires – visiting schools, carrying out home safety checks, and running campaigns highlighting the importance of smoke alarms and the need for safe driving.

It is because this is such a vital service that, last autumn, The Press launched a major campaign against cuts to the North Yorkshire fire service budget.

Hundreds of readers signed our petition protesting against Government plans to increase the budget by a measly 0.5 per cent – a cut when inflation is taken into account.

The city’s MP, Hugh Bayley, handed the petition personally to the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Today, despite all our efforts, we learn that the battle is lost.

The Government is pressing ahead with the cut, ignoring the pleas of fire chiefs and the people of North Yorkshire alike.

This is a dreadful decision. We have no doubt that the men and women of the fire service will continue to give their all. Their courage and selflessness will not change because of Whitehall’s penny-pinching.

But despite their best efforts, the quality of service they can provide is bound to be affected. Education and prevention work such as home safety checks and fire safety advice to businesses, which has had a significant impact in reducing fires and road accidents, is likely to be cut. Other community safety initiatives may also be affected.

Whitehall no doubt sees squeezing rural fire service budgets as an easy way to save money.

But it is the people of North Yorkshire who will have to live with the consequences.

HE was the greatest of all Great Britons, the inspiring wartime leader who pledged we would never surrender. Yet you’d almost think Winston Churchill had a grudge against York. The city fathers repeatedly offered him the freedom of the city. Churchill’s secretary repeatedly said he’d be glad to accept.

But, despite travelling north to accept the Freedom of Oldham, he never managed to make it here for the ceremony.

Eventually, after 12 years, York’s civic leaders gave up trying.

We don’t know what we did to offend him. But we’re sure the people of York will forgive him. He did enough for his country, after all.