Finance: Verdict on fire service cuts deferred

A meeting of Humberside Fire Authority at Hessle near Hull was adjourned after politicians asked for more detail on some of the plans.

The proposal that aroused the most opposition involved cutting the number of crew on engines attending calls from five to four.

The FBU says the fifth member of the team has a "safety- critical role" and the move could cause delays, with firefighters having to wait for back-up before entering a burning building.

Following opposition, managers had decided to introduce the change only at stations with two fire engines. But firefighters said it would still have massive safety implications. The authority's chairman, Coun John Briggs, said: "We are in very challenging times and it is crucial that we get these decisions right."