I BELIEVE that the firemen should snap up the latest generous pay offer and would ask them to consider their previous industrial action and look at how hypocritical this is to the comments they have previously made.

They make claims that the new working practices would put people at greater risk. Well, would they be at a greater or lesser risk than when they walked out and provided no cover? -- which leads on to their claims of being a caring service when they will gladly walk out and leave us all at risk.

Also, I wonder what kind of pay rise their union leaders have received over the last 25 years compared to what they have happily allowed their members to receive. If it is grossly more, they should be deselected and replaced by people who will actually do what they are paid to do and represent the hard working firemen, but not put totally unrealistic demands which only go to show how inept they are.

SAM HARGREAVES, The Sidings, Darwen.