Does anyone know the law regarding emergency vehicles in built-up areas?

I live in a quiet village on the A19 which has a 30mph speed limit. Regularly, though, police and ambulance vehicles - and especially the fire brigade - hare through the village at incredible speeds.

People say that I would not complain if it were my house on fire that they were rushing to, but then they would not like to be bowled over by a speeding fire engine on its way to my house, either.

There are a lot of old people in the village and they cannot cross the road quickly. I just wondered if speed limits did not apply to emergency vehicles with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Updated: 09:50 Tuesday, October 18, 2005