FIREFIGHTERS throughout the county will have heavy hearts this morning after the breakdown of pay talks.

As everyone is aware, firefighters - who are normally willing day-in, day-out to put their lives on the line to protect us all - have no wish to strike.

What they do wish for is a decent wage that's a just reward for their professionalism and dedication.

They deserve it, too, as those who have had their homes, businesses or lives saved by highly-skilled firefighters will testify.

Talks to end the dispute, which went on throughout the night, were apparently on the verge of achieving that aim.

But just three hours before the strike was due to start, it appears the Government intervened in the dispute and peace hopes were destroyed.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has said today that the Fire Brigades Union should have called off the strike while a deal was examined by Ministers.

Agreeing to it without looking at it first would have been like "signing a bouncing cheque".

There are though, two sides to every story, and Andy Gilchrist, the FBU's general secretary, revealed it had been prepared to suspend the strike after a new pay deal - based on a 16 per cent rise - was tabled by employers.

What happened, he claimed, was that, for the third time, the Government had intervened to prevent a deal being reached.

And the consequences? They are likely to be dire ones for our communities - at a time when a deal lies on the table just waiting to be agreed.

To us, it seems that some heads need banging together.