HEREFORD and Worcester Fire Brigade will operate a limited service in the Malvern area when firefighters begin a 48-hour strike on Tuesday.

The whole of the two counties will be covered by just seven RAF crews; two based in Hereford, two in Worcester, two in Kidderminster and one in Redditch.

Part-time firefighters are expected to answer emergency calls as usual from Upton-upon-Severn and Ledbury stations during the dispute.

A retained crew based at Malvern is also expected to turn out but it is not known if part-time officers will cross picket lines.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie assured the public there would be adequate, if limited, cover during the dispute.

"If we can't get any of our retained Continued on people there will be the military," said Mr Mackie.

"A fire service will still be operative during the industrial action but obviously of a limited nature in this area because the RAF hasn't got the personnel or equipment. Our advice at the moment to the public is if they need to call the fire brigade dial 999, ask for fire and there will then be a response."

Green Goddesses used by the military will be escorted to incidents by police vehicles.

Leading Malvern firefighter Adrian Thompson, chairman of the Malvern branch of the Fire Brigade Union, said there was concern that the military cover during the strike would be 'basic'. But he added that cover was down to the brigade's Chief Fire Officer, the Combined Fire Authority and the military.

Mr Thompson said the strike was very much a last resort and that the wage the union was demanding was based on the results of an independent review. The government has so far refused requests for a 40 per cent rise.