LANCASHIRE firefighters were today hopeful of a solution to their pay dispute after a massive show of support at a rally in London.

Around 900 firefighters from the north west travelled to take part in the event, staged by the Fire Brigade Union.

They want to see pay for a qualified firefighter with four years experience to rise from £21,531 to £30,000, and also want the hourly rate for retained officers to be equal to that of their full time colleagues, taking their pay to £7,500 a year.

The Lancashire firefighters will stage another rally outside County Hall in Preston next Monday.