Known as Urban Search and Rescue dogs - they will follow in the heroic and highly professional paw-prints of the dogs that went to the Pakistan earthquake, the USA's 9/11 dogs, and the rescue dogs used during the Boscastle Floods, in Cornwall.

Each dog - usually collies, labradors or springer spaniels - receives specialist training for 18 months to 2 years to develop its acute scenting skills before being ready for service, and is kitted out with protective boots and jackets.

London will get four rescue dogs, with 16 others assigned to specialist units at fire and rescue services across England that can be swiftly deployed across the country if an incident occurs. Funding for USAR dogs will go to: Avon, Buckinghamshire, Devon and Somerset, Essex, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, West Sussex and West Yorkshire FRS.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will have the lead role in coordinating training and establishing a national USAR dog duty rota.