AS THE threat of strike action looms again, Kent firefighters' resolve to win a new pay award is stronger than ever before, according to a union representative.

Negotiations over demands for a 40 per cent pay rise are due to continue next Tuesday, the day before the start of a proposed 48-hour strike.

Maidstone Fire Station watch commander Alan Stark said: "I think that some of the stations that weren't 100 per cent behind strike action before are now.

"The fact is, we have cancelled three sets of industrial action already just to get the employers around the table. We're not being unreasonable but, despite our goodwill, employers still haven't come up with a real offer on pay."

If the strike does go ahead, from 6pm next Wednesday, the FBU predicts that the whole of Kent will be covered by just 19 Green Goddess engines, based at Army barracks and manned by poorly equipped and inadequately trained members of the armed services.

These will be backed up by six specialist units, which will have breathing apparatus and the necessary equipment to deal with road accidents. The cover arrangements are way below Kent Fire Brigade's usual 112 appliances.