Fire crews across Oxfordshire are bracing themselves for a Millennium time bomb.

The county's chief fire officer, Tom Carroll, has warned of a range of potentially lethal hazards associated with the year 2000.

And he says time is running out to prevent the brigade, and the public, from suffering.

Among Mr Carroll's fears, raised in a report headed The Millennium Time Bomb, are:

*999 lines being hit by the Millennium computer bug

*Fire alarms and security systems being struck down by computer failure

A shortage of staff to deal with an expected massive increase in calls on New Year's Eve 1999

*Unsafe buildings for Millennium-related events.

Mr Carroll reports: "The public's overall perception of the Millennium is a once in a lifetime event and an occasion for celebration.

"There are numerous processes and applications which could be affected and therefore the potential impact on the brigade is an unknown quantity."

The fire service is expecting a 'considerable increase' in calls for help on New Year's Eve 1999 - which will be a bank holiday.

The service is suggesting the county sets aside £76,000 for extra staffing costs and replacement computer equipment.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.