by Craig Manning

FIREFIGHTERS returned to work this morning (Wednesday), following the latest 24-hour walkout in a row over pay and fears over possible job cuts.

Staff at fire stations across Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire left their posts at 9am yesterday (Tuesday) for a 24-hour stoppage in protest over pay and reform. The action follows an eight-day walkout in November, and two further strikes are planned in the next fortnight.

The action came after talks between Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Fire Brigades Union broke down on Monday evening. Firefirghters have asked for a 40 per cent pay rise, which would see their basic wage rise to £30,000. A Government-backed Bain report recommends an 11-percent rise over two years.

Les Skarratts, Merseyside Fire Brigade's Union told Globe that implementing the Bain report in Merseyside could cost 500 jobs and lead to day-only manning of stations: "That's why firefighters are determined to defend themselves against the devastating attack, by the Government, which would put people's lives in danger."

More than 500 soldiers from the Queen's Lanashire Regiment were on standby with 24 Green Goddesses, were joined by Royal Navy officers to form fire-rescue teams.

At the time of going to press yesterday a spokesman for the Government News Network, handling all media enquiries for the firefighters, told the Globe that there had been no call-outs.