FIREFIGHTERS in East Lancahshire have dubbed pension reforms - being promoted by the government and the centre of a long-running dispute - as ‘cruel and immoral’.

Union members at East Lancashire’s 15 stations walked out on Friday night for six hours to midnight, with the industrial action continuing until 6pm on Tuesday.

Staff fear they will have to work until 60 for poorer final payouts - despite being asked to hand over £70 more per month on top of only two per cent pay rises over the past five years.

And there is anger after the Scottish government offered firefighters improved terms which would allow firefighters to retire at 55 - there is no strike north of the border.

Pete Derbyshire, Lancashire Fire Brigades Union spokesman and a crew manager based at Darwen, said that the pension deal offered to firefighters, some more than 20 years ago, was now changing without agreement.

“It is cruel and immoral when people have spent years planning their futures,” said Mr Derbyshire, who is also concerned that no indication has been given over the future of firefighters not fit enough to work until 60.

Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer, Chris Kenny said: “This is a national dispute between the FBU and Government and is not a dispute between Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and our firefighters.

“We do have a significant number of our staff who have given a commitment to maintain emergency cover and as a result the public can be reassured that the service plan to keep fire engines in Lancashire operational during the dispute period.

“We would urge all members of the public to be extra vigilant however and be aware that for minor fires in particular, there may be a longer wait for a fire engine.

“I ask the public to take extra care to prevent a fire happening and encourage them to access the website we have set up to offer advice on how to do that at www.takeextracare.com.”

Fire minister Penny Mordaunt claimed the strike was ‘unnecessary’ as steps had been taken in Parliament on Tuesday which will result in three quarters of firefighters seeing no change in their pension age in 2015.