Firefighting motorbikes will be used to tackle blazes across a city, it was announced today.

Liverpool is the first city in the UK to roll out two of the £30,000 bikes, which have pumps with a range of 11 metres, in a six-month pilot scheme.

With 50 litres of water and chemical foam on board each specially modified BMW bike, they are capable as a pair of putting out two burning cars in two minutes.

The two riders will be kitted out in state-of-the-art equipment which allows them to start fighting blazes as soon as they arrive at a scene.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service group manager John McCormack said: "We had to make sure the protective equipment was suitable both for riding a motorbike and also fighting a fire when he gets there. He does not have time to get changed."

The man in charge of the project added: "We have no intention of using them to replace fire engines.