Firefighters' strike likely as hopes of settlement fade

Talks aimed at averting a firefighters' strike looked set to fail yesterday as army Green Goddesses stood by as cover during industrial action.

Officials of the Fire Brigades Union were meeting leaders of Essex County Council to try to resolve a dispute over pounds 1.5m in spending cuts. Two union negotiators left the meeting early and said it had broken down, meaning the first 24-hour strike would start at 10am today. But the council insisted the talks were still continuing at lunchtime. One union negotiator said: "I have not seen any glimmer of light during the talks and my hopes of a settlement are fading." The union is planning further walkouts next Monday and Wednesday, in protest at the cuts, which the council has blamed on government underfunding.