BRITAIN'S first rural safety scheme is being launched in Hampshire today (Friday) by the county's fire service.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue's animal rescue expert Jim Green is in charge of a year-long pilot scheme, which will operate within the New Forest National Park boundary.

Lyndhurst-based Jim said: " The scheme ties in with legislation within the regulatory reform fire safety order 2005, which handed over risk assessment to occupiers of rural premises. Farmers and landowners anywhere running a business have to comply with the latest fire safety legislation."

In 2006 Hampshire Fire Rescue teams dealt with 400 incidents on farms and the new rural safety initiative is aimed at reducing the number of emergency call outs.

Jim and his team will be visiting premises inside the National Park to inform occupiers about all aspects of rural safety.

"We will advise on preventing fires and the storage of chemicals on farms and we are looking at an amnesty on chemicals that have been outlawed. Safety on farms is an important issue. Six children were killed on farms around Britain last year.."

If the rural safety initiative is successful it will be adopted across the county.

The scheme is also about protecting the lives of farm animals. Last year the four-man team headed by Jim went to the aid of about 170 animals in Hampshire.

Jim said: "Animal rescue work is one of the most dangerous jobs we do and we will be doing our best to make sure people know what to do in an emergency involving farm animals."

The work of the brigade's animal rescue will be featured on BBC South's Inside Out next month.

For more details on the rural safety initiative, visit www/rural.safety@hantsfire.gov.uk or telephone 023 8064 4000.