THE fire chief who led a team of firefighters into Strangeways Prison at the height of the 1990 riot has announced his retirement.

George Almond, the Greater Manchester County Fire Officer, will leave the brigade on March 1.

It ends a 40 year career in which he received numerous awards and commendations, including the CBE in this year's honours list.

Mr Almond, who lives in Bolton, took charge of the firefighters in the Strangeways riot after inmates began to set the prison alight.

He was also in command in the aftermath of the IRA bombing of Manchester city centre in 1996, when he supervised the search and rescue operations.

But the incident which really stands out in his mind is a house fire which took place on Christmas Day, 1984, in Massey Street, Bury.

He said: "Nine people lost their lives. This sort of human tragedy services to remind me of the need to place greater emphasis on fire safety in the home.

"It was incidents like this in the 1980s that led to changes in the furnishing regulations which has undoubtedly saved many needless fire deaths in the UK."

Mr Almond began his career at Hampshire Fire Service in 1962 and moved to Cheshire Fire Brigade in 1970.

He was appointed Assistant County Fire Officer with Greater Manchester in 1982, before being promoted to Deputy in 1991 and County Fire Officer and Chief Executive in July 1995.