The Fire Brigades' Union said industrial action will take place on Monday June 8 across the county, a year after similar action was taken.

Military "green goddess" fire engines manned by the army will be drafted in as emergency cover during the four-hour strike from 10am.

Authorities ordered the fire engines to be used during last year's stoppage.

Cuts of £1m

Union leaders say firemen will lose jobs

Members of the county's FBU voted in favour of industrial action by 642 votes to 272, a majority of 70%.

The firefighters chose to strike in protest at the fire authority's plans to cut more than £1 million from the fire service's budget which they say will lead to job losses.

Union officials in many of the UK's fire brigades have predicted that industrial action may take place because cuts would threaten lives.

Ken Cameron, general secretary of the FBU, said: "This dispute is totally as a result of the crass stubbornness of the Essex Fire Authority in not using a small proportion of the £26 million they have in reserve."

Essex Fire Authority has not commented on the strike vote.