A Lancashire-based company will arrange the county's transport and accommodation needs should Oxfordshire be affected by a major terrorist incident.

Emergency planners have signed a contract with Fraser Eagle, which will source hotel accommodation and arrange transport for those who have to be evacuated from the county.

All local authorities have emergency arrangements, but after the September 11 terrorist attacks in America contingency plans have been strengthened.

Chief Fire Officer John Parry -- who is also in charge of coordinating Oxfordshire's emergency planning -- said an area could be affected for as long as three weeks after an attack. And should Oxford suffer a chemical attack 100 fire engines would be required to decontaminate 2,000 people every 10 hours.

Mr Parry said: "If it becomes apparent we need additional accommodation for 200 people, rather than us having to source that, we phone the company who say they have five places at this hotel and seven places there -- all that will come off their computer.

"This is just part of our contingency plan -- we are not doing it for any other reason.

"In the current climate where we may have to deal with incidents beyond our local resources it will be very useful to have Fraser Eagle's operations centre available through a password phone- call."

Meanwhile an announcement on where the South East's regional fire control room will be based is set to be made in the new year.

Under Government plans, the existing 47 control rooms across England will be scrapped and replaced with nine regional call centres.

Because of this Oxfordshire's Kidlington headquarters are under threat.

Despite strong local opposition -- including that of Mr Parry who fears job cuts and council tax rises if the scheme goes ahead -- emergency calls from Oxfordshire could be handled as far away as Canterbury, Brighton or Guildford.

County councillor John Farrow, executive member for community safety, welcomed the contract with Fraser Eagle.

He said: "This is a sensible precaution to make sure we have the means of transporting people out of danger and it will be a useful addition to our existing local arrangements."