Firefighters stage second strike

Military Green Goddesses were brought in as cover

A second wave of strike action by Merseyside firefighters has started despite last-minute talks to resolve the dispute.

A meeting aimed at heading off another eight days of industrial action ended late on Monday evening after no agreement was reached.

More than 1,000 members of the Fire Brigades Union members across the county have now staged a mass walked out.

Merseyside firefighters were supported by others across the UK

But a union spokesman said talks with the Merseyside Fire Authority will resume at 1600BST on Tuesday to see if a deal can be reached.

The Authority had said it conceded to union calls for no civilian staff to be employed in management positions.

But the union believed Chief Fire Officer Malcolm Saunders would go ahead with the plan regardless.

Claims that the move would encourage more women and ethnic minority applicants have been rejected by union chiefs.

Green Goddesses

Armed forces personnel were called into action eight days ago when Fire Brigades Union members across the county walked out.

Within less than an hour the antiquated Green Goddesses were seen on the streets for the first time in a firefighters' strike for three years.

During the strike action, fire cover was provided by some 530 servicemen and women from the Army, RAF and Royal Navy who underwent intensive training.

Firefighters returned to work on Saturday morning.

Mr Saunders estimates the net cost at about £1m - almost £1,000 for every firefighter.