THE fire and rescue service in Ryedale is to get a new group manager.

Current group manager Danny Westmoreland is retiring next month after 30 years in the service; he will be replaced by Marc Warren.

The announcement was made at last week’s Ryedale area committee meeting. Cllr Val Arnold said: “I would like to thank Danny for everything he’s done.”

The committee discussed recent call-outs made to the fire service, including an incident in May when a cat was stuck 50ft up a tree in Pickering.

On that occasion, crews tried to coax the cat down; instead the animal moved further up the tree. The incident was left with the cat's owner.

Cllr Janet Sanderson asked who pays in situations such as animal rescues.

Mr Westmoreland said: “We did have arrangements where we tried to recover the costs - but we found that the cost of trying to recover the cost was more than the cost.”

Also discussed was the recent introduction of the tactical response vehicle fire engine (TRV), which had some teething problems last week when a stone from a passing lorry knocked its headlight out.

A fire spokesman said the vehicle had to be temporarily removed from service. She said: “It is believed a LGV travelling past the Malton TRV projected a stone which hit and broke one of the headlights - the TRV was not on its way to or from an incident at the time.”

A spare fire engine was arranged for Malton while the headlight was repaired.