The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns meant Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spent £5m less than it expected to in 2020-21.

The brigade’s audited annual accounts will be presented to members of the fire authorities audit committee next week, and they show the day-to day spending revenue account had a saving of £1.9m, while the capital budget was underspent by £3.2m

The main saving on the revenue budget was £1.2m on staffing costs.

The report to the committee says: “The overall saving has been maintained as a result of some pay costs being offset by additional grants, such as those related to the Wareham Forest major incident.

"There was a final net saving of £123,000 on other employee-related costs, mainly from reduced activity related to the Covid-19 pandemic, although we were able to maintain essential operational training.”

The underspend on the capital budget came about because of delays to the building programme and vehicle replacement programme because of the pandemic. The £3.2m allocated has been moved to later budgets to allow the work to be done.

The meeting begins at 10am on Wednesday in Poundbury in Dorset.