Fire chief resigns over Land Rover family sale claims

A FIRE chief awarded an OBE last month has resigned amid claims he sold a service-owned Land Rover to a member of his family for a vastly reduced price.

Stewart Edgar, the chief fire officer of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, stood down after a whistleblower reported his behaviour to the county council, triggering an internal audit.

Mark Hawthorne, the leader of Gloucestershire county council, said: “As a result of those investigations’ initial findings, the chief fire officer has tendered his resignation with immediate effect. This is the right thing for him to do given the serious nature of the allegations made and the outcome of that investigation.

“While his departure is regrettable given his previous outstanding contribution to our county, his actions have made his continued employment untenable.”