Grampian Fire Brigade's announcement on April 1 that it would be switching from red to white engines was not an April fool, it emerged yesterday.

There was a lot of scepticism when news of the change first broke, but yesterday the first of eight new white appliances arrived in Aberdeen.

Deputy fire master Gordon Kennedy said the brigade had looked at how vehicles could be made safer following a number of accidents.

First, bull horns were introduced to boost the warning given to vehicles travelling in front.

Now white engines are to replace the red vehicles.

Studies by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory have shown white to be more conspicuous than red, particularly in daylight.

As well as being a different colour, the new vehicles have prominent reflective markings along the sides and rear.

Grampian is the first brigade in the country to introduce white fire engines and the initiative has attracted interest from other forces. At least three brigades are expected to follow suit by the end of the year.

Saving money was not the motive behind the white engines, but they do work out cheaper. When a vehicle arrived from Sweden in the past it had to be sprayed Day-Glo red. And if minor damage was done to the bodywork entire panels had to be re-sprayed, which will not be the case with standard white.

Initially, eight white engines will be introduced in Aberdeen, Elgin and Peterhead and evaluated.

Non-red fire engines are not a new phenomenon. The current Day-Glo red, which led to engines being dubbed ''pink panthers'', was introduced in the 1970s and replaced silver. Green, grey and pillar box red have also been used.

Mr Kennedy said the brigade had been taken aback by the interest shown in the white engines.

Firefighters appeared to be happy with the change once they saw the vehicles, he added.