A CORNWALL councillor has expressed concern over a further delay in the updating of Calllington's main fire engine.

Andrew Long, Mebyon Kernow's Callington representative on the council, was commenting after receiving an answer to a question he raised at last month's main council meeting at Truro.

'Callington's current fire engine is now almost 20 years old, and was due to be replaced, as per the schedule, back in 2008,' he said.

'It is now 2011 and I am disappointed to hear that it will be at least another two years until they start looking at replacing the fleet. I also urge the managers not to go down the road of the small units they plan to test as this would be ineffective in our geographical situation.'

Cllr Long said he appreciated that finances were stretched at the present time but if it was not dealt with as a matter of urgency, the risk of equipment failure would increase, possibly when there was an emergency situation.

'The cost of potential loss of life, or excess damage to property dwarfs the cost of replacing the machine,' he added.

Callington has recently completed a new recruitment drive for the volunteer fire station and now has a full complement of staff. The councillor said this was thanks to the community spirit of the town, including the new volunteers and the businesses who are letting the staff have time off during the working day.

The fire station covers a wide area from the border up to St Ive, Upton Cross and south to St Dominick and St Mellion.

'The rural nature of the area makes it even more important for the engine to be modern and reliable,' said Mr Long.

'When East Cornwall councillors attended the fire Station in February, we were unable to see the existing engine as it was away for repairs and the temporary engine, which was equally as old, broke down while on a training exercise.'