CONCERNED councillors have lashed out at the likely loss of a town's specialist fire engine as cuts are made to the service.

The Essex Fire Authority has voted in favour of making cuts to the service in an effort to save £6.4 million a year.

Manningtree is expected to lose its off-road specialist Pinzgauer engine, which doubles up as a second engine for the town’s station and is used to navigate narrow streets .

Town and parish councillors have reacted with dismay at the cuts.

Mayor Mark Morsley said: “We have narrow streets like Oxford Road which need the engine – it will be a nightmare.

“The emergency services have wh at they have because they need it and fires break out in Manningtree and Mistley just like anywh ere else.

“Not forgetting the hundreds of houses set to be built around the town, there will be a greater need for cover. ”

Martin Rayner, chairman of Mistley Parish Council, added: “The off-road nature of the engine was never the problem, it was the size of our streets .

“Many of us in Manningtree and Mistley are concerned.

This is a narrow vehicle which can and does negotiate the roads that a larger engine cannot.

“If it goes, fire engines simply won’t be able to get close enough to some houses.”

Fire chiefs will now come up with an implementation plan for the cutbacks before a further meeting in September.

Tendring councillor and fire authority member Carlo Guglielmi added: “The cabinet at Tendring were concer ned about the options for changes – I have concer ns that the Pinzgauer engine will disappear from Manningtree .

“The town has narrow streets and it has always been brought in to address the unique nature of the town."