A MEMO from union bosses to ambulance workers has warned them not to step in and use emergency cutting equipment while firefighters are on strike.

The note, leaked anonymously to the Evening News, said that if workers used the equipment it would be strike-breaking.

It maintained volunteering would jeopardise the close working relationship between Unison and the Fire Brigade Union.

"Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service's management approached us a couple of months ago about using the equipment," said Pete Green, Unison branch secretary, who wrote the memo.

"We discussed this and decided it would put us in a difficult position.

"We explained that we were not happy and this was the last we heard about it.

"However, we heard a rumour that the management was going to ask for volunteers to come forward to use the cutting equipment.

"We issued the memo because we wanted the staff to know Unison's position."

He revealed that it would take six ambulance staff to cut a roof off a car to release a trapped person.

"This would remove six members of ambulance staff and cause more stress on the staff," he added.

"Obviously we would do our job, which is patient care. If the patient can be removed safely we will do so.

"The Government will put into place alternative arrangements which we would have to wait for before cutting could begin.

"We believe that using the cutting equipment would put the ambulance staff at risk."

Sub Officer Steve Laugher, the county's Fire Brigade Union secretary, said it would not be easy to learn how to operate the machinery.

"All the different technology in cars, such as air bags and fuel lines, impacts on where we cut in the vehicle," said Mr Laugher.

"It also affects what equipment we use and how we use it and there's health and safety implications for the workers themselves."

As the Evening News went to press, no one from Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust was available for comment.