The UK’s fire and rescue services have called for statutory duties to respond to extreme weather events in England.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said a legal duty would help fire and rescue services provide a ‘coordinated and effective’ response to increasing risks amid the climate emergency.

But it warned that any changes in statutory obligations must be underpinned by sustained funding.

Fire and rescue services in England currently have no statutory duties in relation to inland water rescue – an increasing issue as more people enter the water in hot weather – or in relation to flooding.

The NFCC said this was resulting in discrepancies in equipment, training and standards between services in England and between the UK nations, since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already have some statutory duties.

In responding to wildfires, which does fall within the remit of fire and rescue services, budgets have undergone years of real terms cuts, the NFCC warned.

NFCC chair Mark Hardingham said: ‘The absence of a statutory duty to respond to flooding and inland water incidents in England challenges our ability to ensure our services are prepared, with the appropriate equipment and training in place.

‘It also risks there being different standards of safety depending on where you live in the UK.

‘We would like to see the Government consult on introducing these changes to the legal framework, but with core budgets already under significant strain, any revisions to our statutory obligations must be met with adequate funding.’