BRITAIN needs at least 1,000 more firefighters to cope with major terrorist attacks.

That is the belief of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) which last week revealed plans by councils across the country to cut staff levels and appliances, including 70 jobs in Greater Manchester.

The FBU points to a doubling in the size of MI5, significantly more police and says other areas must follow the London Fire Authority example and recruit more firefighters.

While the Government has provided councils with £56 million of equipment to deal with chemical attacks, and another £132 million of gear to handle conventional attacks, the FBU says most town halls have not faced up to the problem of too few staff to use it. Union general secretary Andy Gilchrist said: "Councils, including those in Greater Manchester, have their head in the sand on this issue. There are many strategic targets outside of London and the South East.

"London doesn't have any nuclear power stations that terrorists could attack and there are other strategic transport, industrial and commercial targets around the UK.

"We need to be ready to react whenever and wherever they strike. Councils have been given this equipment but they need people to operate it. London is taking on another 256 firefighters.

"Realistically we need at least another 1,000 across the UK, a very modest increase of two per cent."