FIREFIGHTERS in Wirral say morale is at an 'all-time' low as a government dispute over pensions continues.

A 24-hour walkout began at 7am, in response to controversial plans to make firefighters work up to 60.

Thousands of Fire Brigades Union members - including hundreds from Wirral - joined a lunchtime rally in Westminster before lobbying MPs to support their campaign against the controversial changes to pensions and retirement age.

Contingency plans are in place, with the warning that a normal service will not be provided during today's walk-out, with less serious incidents such as fire alarms and bin fires left unattended.

The FBU has accused fire minister Penny Mordaunt of misleading Parliament after she told MPs that if a firefighter loses fitness through no fault of their own, they should get another role or a full, unreduced pension.

The union said fire authorities across the country had failed to back up the minister's "guarantee".

Among the Wirral firefighters on strike was Karl Mullins from Blue Watch at Birkenhead Community Fire Station. He was joined by colleagues from Birkenhead and Bromborough stations.

He told the Globe: "We've all got out different times left in the job, I've got six years left to do.

"We are on strike today because of the lies that have been made by Penny Mordaunt and Eric Pickles to push through the increases in our pension contributions.

"If the proposal goes through, we would have to work longer. As we get older we don't know whether we'd be able to do our job.

"If we are able to do our job in our late 50s, there's no guarantee that we will get the pension that we have paid into for all this time.

"Our message to the public during the strike action is 'just take extra care', there is a skeleton crew on hand.

"We're not doing this out of spite for the public, we're doing this because we're getting penalised by the government.

"Wales, Scotland and Ireland have had their pension agreements, but England's seems to have been buried completely.

"We are a UK fire and rescue service, so why aren't we being treated in the same way?

"Morale is at all-time low. It's terrible."

A colleague, who asked not to named, added: "We pay 14% of our wages and the story is that this contribution is going to go up even more.

"Due to the nature of the job, we can retire at 55. That's why people pay more. It just seems massively unfair that we will have to pay more."

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "Firefighters are justifiably angry with how this government is treating them.

"MPs, the public and firefighters were completely misled and given a false guarantee in order to pass the legislation. This is wrong.

"Firefighters will be protesting in Parliament to make their voices heard.

"They will be asking David Cameron what he is going to do to ensure his government delivers its guarantee.

"We will not accept these lies. If they can lie to firefighters they can lie to anyone and everyone."

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "All fire and rescue authorities have robust and well tested strike contingency plans in place that include back up support if needed.

"Public safety is our priority and if anyone needs emergency assistance they should dial 999 and they will get a response from their fire and rescue service.

"Strike action is unnecessary and appears to be over a point which is a vast improvement on the 2006 scheme which required firefighters to work to 60 with no protection.

"We have been clear that firefighters get an unreduced pension or a job and have changed the national framework through a statutory instrument to do so.

"If fire authorities do not produce processes which yield this the Secretary of State has said he will intervene."