FIRE chiefs will not be reimbursed for £170,000 they lost during the fire strikes.

The losses were incurred at Lancashire Combined Fire Authority's Washington Hall training centre near Chorley, mainly as a result of the cancellation of courses during the 15 strike days by fire crews between November 2002 and February 2003.

The centre takes fire crews from across Britain and the world and provides a regular source of income for the Lancashire force.

The Authority contacted the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister outlining the losses but were told that they would be expected to transfer all the deductions made to the wages of striking personnel, without deducting any money for any costs they incurred.

A letter from John Prescott's office, written by Richard Greenhous , of the Fire Service Modernisation Team, said: "We acknowledge the additional costs and losses that the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has incurred as a result of the industrial action, including those caused by cancelled training courses.

"But in the context of OPDM bearing the considerable costs incurred by the military and police by providing emergency fire cover, we expect the Authority to transfer to OPDM all of those deductions made to striking fire service personnel's wages, with no deduction for any costs incurred by the Authority.

"This is and remains the position for all fire authorities. I regret that no exception can be made for Lancashire, or any other Authority."

John Taylor, spokesman for the Fire Authority, said: "The saving of wages not paid to striking firefighters is a contentious issue.

"They ODPM want the money which would have been paid to the firefighters, which will more than offset the cost of getting in the military because there were a lot less military involved.

"The committee is disappointed but it appears to be a fait accompli. John Prescott's office are saying that is what they are doing and that is what is happening.

"There were 15 strike days as well as other days when strikes were threatened, although didn't go ahead, when the training centre was unable to run courses.

"But the loss of £170,000 is not going to translate into the loss of engines or anything like that.

"It will be up to the marketing manager and staff to make the centre make as much profit as they can."