DORSET Fire Authority has agreed to move forward with the merger between Dorset and Wiltshire fire services.

The move is being proposed as both services face running out of money in the next few years due to government cuts.

By merging, fire chiefs say savings can be found without any cuts to frontline services or response times.

The next stage is for Wiltshire Fire Authority to agree to the move at a meeting next Tuesday.

Over the summer a public consultation was held by both services with the majority of people responding in favour of the merger.

The business case was revealed last week which showed the merger to be the only viable option and that closer working with other agencies, such as the police, would not deliver the necessary savings.

However, if it does go ahead there will likely by a small increase in the fire precept in Wiltshire, meaning people will pay a few pounds more each year so they are on the same level as Dorset residents.

Swindon Council agreed to support the merger in its response to the consultation but Wiltshire Council said more detail was needed.