ALL the retained firefighters who work around Alcester and Bidford are to join their full-time colleagues in the national strike.

The 11 part-time firefighters work at Alcester, with about the same number in Bidford, are members of the the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) which has already confirmed a number of strike dates starting, from next Tuesday to Thursday, October 31.

Now a nine-week fire safety campaign is under way, following the move for strike action after the government rejected a 40 per cent pay increase for firefighters.

A briefing with fire chiefs and the Ministry of Defence, on the state of Warwickshire's fire service, is scheduled to take place in Leamington today (Wednesday), when it should be known how much, of what kind and where fire cover is deployed across the county.

The safety campaign, meanwhile, is warning townsfolk of the potential dangers of fire in their kitchen and to how to be safe on bonfire night.

The first week looks at fire safety in the kitchen.

County Fire Officer Brian Hibbert said he wanted to raise the awareness of the need for greater care in the kitchen, an area where most accidents and fires occurred in the home.

For further fire safety information and advice, contact the fire safety helpline, on 01926 466282, or go to www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue or, alternatively, www.firekills.gov.uk.