'We're determined to stick this out for as long as it takes'

As solid as the rock from which the castle of Dumbarton was hewn, the firefighters who stood in its shadow were defiant, determined to win a fight which many feel is now more political than industrial.

Dumbarton, described by Henry VIII as the "key to the realm" and lying just 15 miles down river from Glasgow has withstood the test of numerous, sieges, battles and political plots over the centuries – a point not lost on the picket line outside the town's fire station.

Huddled around a blazing oil-drum fuelled by donations of firewood from members of the public a mixed group of both full-time and retained firemen were determined to stand firm against what they regard as government interference.

"There was utter disbelief this morning when we heard the news," said Station Officer Paul Ashton, who, as a 19-year-old spent nine weeks on the picket line during the last fire strike. Now, aged 44, he is going through it all again.

"We have listened to the three main parties involved and it's not a coincidence that the employers and the FBU are virtually speaking as one.

"They had brokered an agreement and were virtually ready to sign it when they received a call from government to say nobody was in a position to vet that agreement until 9am.

"If it was good enough for the General Secretary of the TUC, John Monks, to be there at 4am then it was certainly good enough for the ultimate public sector worker – an elected member of parliament – to be there to give input and assistance. The Government can't say they won't sanction something if they are not willing to give some constructive assistance to it.

"This is no longer an industrial dispute this is now a political dispute and we believe Mr Blair would not shed any tears if the FBU was broken."

Situated in the centre of a changing industrial town on the edge of Scotland's first national park – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs – the 50 firefighters who man Dumbarton fire station have to deal with a variety of incidents every day.

Much of their work involves serious road traffic accidents as every summer the area is packed by tourists and they have responsibility for a number of hotels, camping sites and public attractions as well as a high density of disadvantaged housing estates.

"This is a very busy station, especially at night, as we deal with more than 1,500 calls a year," said Mr Ashton.

"We don't want to be out here in front of the station we want to be inside doing our jobs. We do care about the safety of the public and have no problem with military using our fire engines during the strike but we would rather be doing the job ourselves. If human life is at risk, we will leave the picket lines and assist.

"We will help remove anybody from a burning building but we won't save the building.

"Lives are far more important than property."

Throughout the day, the pickets handed out fire-safety leaflets to the public and were inundated with donations of hot drinks, food and money from supporters amid a cacophony of car horns as passing motorists demonstrated their support.

"The public have been great," said Niall Macleod who at 22 is the youngest member of the picket. "That makes it much easier for us when we known that most people in the town support what we are doing.

"Like the rest of the guys I am determined to stick this out for as long as it takes".

Although they would like the strike to end as soon as possible the mood among all the men was the same and strengthened by what they consider as government interference.

Mr Ashton concluded by saying: "If MPs had shown restraint last year in accepting their 40 per cent pay rise then we would probably not be in the situation we are in now."