Firefighters call four-day strike over pensions

Firefighters will go on strike for four days as part of an ongoing row with the government over pensions.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the strike would start at 6pm on Friday and end at 6pm on Tuesday, the day before Bonfire Night.

People are being urged to take extra care during the strike, which will hit fire service cover around England.

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The FBU is furious at a government proposals to increase the age firefighters have to work until to get their full pension from 55 to 60.

The FBU claims the plan would lead to firefighters working until they were too old to be fit enough to put tackle serious incidents.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The public do not want 60-year-olds tackling fires. Everyone understand the stupidity of these plans, except government ministers.”

Talks over the past two months have failed to resolve the dispute.

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Dave Walton, assistant West Yorkshire chief fire officer, said contingency plans would be in place during the strike.

But he added: “The level of cover that we will be able to provide will not be to same level as a regular day or night and we urge the community to take extra care.”