December 30, 1977

STRIKING firemen in Redditch vowed this week never again to work with Alcester part-timers who fought the Needle Industries blaze.

They say they no longer recognise the Alcester retainers as firemen and will have nothing to do with them after the strike is over.

If both the Redditch full-timers and the Alcester retained men are called to the same fire, the Redditch men will pack up and go home.

The full-timers may also consider trying to get the retainers drummed out of the Fire Brigades Union.

A bitter Mr Alan Sprague, secretary of the Redditch branch FBU, said: "We are sick of the Alcester men continually turning out to fires during the strike.

"They are FBU members but they have given us no support whatsoever during our strike.

This Needle Industries blaze brought everything to a head.

"My men are very bitter and they will never work with the Alcester retainers again."

One of the first people to tackle the blaze was a full-time fireman stationed in Birmingham who had been drinking in the Barley Mow pub just across the road from the burning building.

He dashed to the scene and took control of the part-timers, who had just arrived.

Together with two friends, he smashed his way into the building - breaking windows with his bare hands - and tried to fight the fire near its source.