Plans to remove Maryport fire station's second fire engine have been scrapped in a dramatic u-turn. 

The county council's cabinet met today to discuss multi-million pound budget cuts, but decided to completely change its proposals to slash fire services across the county.

Councillor Barry Doughty, cabinet member with responsibility for the fire service, put forward the proposal to make no alterations to the service. 

He said: "As regards the action plan, the officer recommendation to endorse it was made using solid evidence and advice, and reflected the ever reducing number of incidents, with them halving over the last 11 years.

"However, following the recent floods and also the announcement by Theresa May MP regarding the movement of government responsibilities relating to fire and rescue services from the Department of Communities and Local Government to the Home Office, I am recommending that now is not the right time to consider these closures given the uncertainties ahead.  

"To be clear, I am therefore recommending that the removal of the second on-call fire engine from Maryport will not be taken forward."

The removal of one fire engine from the fire station would have saved the county £30,000 a year.

He added that the proposal to close four stations, including one at Frizington, was also scrapped.

It had been estimated their closure would produce annual savings of £438,000, with a further one-off cash boost of £365,000 generated from the sale of the buildings. 

He said: "Not taking forward these changes, means that the associated saving of £300,000 for 2016/17 will still need to be identified for the cabinet to be able to recommend to council a balanced budget for 2016/17 and this increases to £405,000 from 2017/18 and beyond."

The recommendation is due to be discussed at a full council meeting on February 18.