THE British Red Cross has unveiled a vehicle that will enable workers to keep in better contact when they deal with emergencies.

The new emergency support unit could be used at incidents such as the floods in Gloucestershire last year or the London bombings.

But it will also be used by the Red Cross at social events such as the Badminton Horse Trials and Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

The branded vehicle includes communication equipment so that if a major incident affects the mobile phone network Red Cross volunteers and workers can keep in contact with each other.

There is an operational part of the unit where efforts can be planned and workers briefed as well as an area to store all the necessary communication equipment, which will allow Red Cross staff to stay in contact with personnel in other vehicles or on hand-held radios to provide effective emergency response.

The vehicle will also provide increased capacity to support the police or ambulance emergency systems.

The vehicle has been funded by the Brit Insurance Charitable Trust and will be used for major incidents in the south west and elsewhere if necessary.

British Red Cross operations director for Wales, Avon and the West, Colleen Cleevely, said: "Thankfully major incidents don't happen every day and when we aren't at major events we will take the unit to major events."

She said the unit allows the team to look more professional when they respond to major events and also enables the team to get everything they need to the scene quickly and efficiently.

Sandra Howitt, senior service manager for emergency response, said: "The communications vehicle's main purpose is for when we assist the statutory agencies in responding to major incidents.

"It will also be used at public events. In the past we've had to bring vehicles up from Kent or down from Newcastle or hire a vehicle from the county council.

"It will be particularly useful in emergency response multi-site situations such as the Gloucester floods where the sheer level of communication coming in and out was huge, and meant it was often difficult for us to leave the building.

"The new vehicle will provide a conference facility, internet and TV access so we are able to be on the spot but stay abreast of events as they happen."