HAMPSHIRE'S fire brigade has scored top marks for how well it responds to emergencies and prevents fires, deaths and injuries.

Public service watchdog, the Audit Commision, has rated Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) as "improving well", having demonstrated "good overall performance" in 2005.

Fire service managers have welcomed the results.

County councillor Michael Wright, chairman of the fire authority, said: "We are very happy with the report and how far the service has come in the last three years.

"Our corporate aim is to be in the top 10 performing authorities in England by 2010."

The fire and rescue performance assessments are made up of three ratings that aim to build a clear picture of the standards of service the public are receiving.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service earned the top score of four' for how prepared it was to deal with incidents like house fires, accidents or acts of terrorism and emergency response.

It scored strongly for a below average number of fires and deaths per 100,000 population. However, the number of injuries as a result of house fires was higher than average.

Philip Webb, performance review manager, blamed this partly on wrong recording of the information.

People sent to hospital for "a precautionary check" after a incident had been recorded as injuries by Hampshire Fire and Rescue, whereas other brigades did not include this group.

Elsewhere, the service scored three' for "performing well" for direction of travel, which shows how well brigades are refocusing their efforts from putting out fires to preventing them happening in the first place The report said the service had made progress in addressing equality and diversity issues, but performance in some of these areas was still low.

HFRA, which has a budget of £63m in 2007/8, also scored three' for performing well on use of resources, and "demonstrated good value for money".

There are 47 fire and rescue authorities in the UK.