PUBLIC safety could be compromised if controversial plans are introduced to remove beds from Bury and Whitefield fire stations to stop firefighters sleeping during the nightshift.

That is the fear of one senior officer with Bury fire brigade who believes it could mean tired firefighters turning out to deal with emergencies.

He told the Bury Times: "The public will not get a better service.

"The lads are not happy with this move. What it will mean is lads who have been working a straight 15-hour shift without sleep will be putting out fires. What would you rather have: firefighters who have had some sleep being called out to a fire or those who have had none?"

Traditionally, firefighters working nights have slept between midnight and 7am responding to emergency calls when they happen. Now Barry Dixon, chief officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, wants all beds at the county's fire stations removed by September 1. Instead crews will be expected to do training and inspection exercises through the night.

Mr Dixon said: "I believe in a modern fire and rescue service there is no place for beds. Many of the areas we serve are busy 24 hours a day and there is an opportunity for us, during the night, to carry out relevant community safety work and undertake appropriate training."

He added: "We have significant new responsibilities, especially with the threat of terrorism and other risks."

The Greater Manchester service will be the first to scrap the beds, and local crews believe it is only a matter of time before the programme is rolled out across the country.

"There is no reason or logic to this move. Some of the lads think it is punishment for the strike and a way of bringing in changes through the back door, such as introducing different working shifts," said the officer.

"But the bottom line is that by the nature of this job we could sometimes be doing shifts with little sleep. We work two nine hour days and then two 15-hour night shifts, which start from 6pm. If the nightshift runs over then we might not get home until late the next morning, get some broken sleep, and then come back for the night shift."

The senior officer added: "Sleeping during duty does not make firefighters tired. As soon as the call comes in, the adrenalin kicks in and they have had a rest and are refreshed and ready to respond.

"We have had this system in for many years, and it has worked."

Mr Dixon, however, denied that the "no beds" move would jeopardise public or firefighter safety.

"Our firefighters do a fantastic job and there is no doubt that the job can be physically demanding. We are not saying by taking away the beds that firefighters will not be able to rest.

"It must be stressed that appropriate rest periods will be given during the nightshift in line with the national conditions of service."