FIREFIGHTERS from North Yorkshire have spoken of their sadness and frustration - but also their determination - following the overwhelming national vote to go on strike.

"This is the hardest decision that any firefighter has ever had to make," said John Mitchell, county branch secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), speaking after the strike ballot result was announced yesterday to a meeting of more than 30 union members in York.

"They know more than anybody the consequences of withdrawing their services. But they feel they have had no choice but to vote for strike action.

"When the news of the vote came through, there was a reaction of shock, of realisation that we have come to this, of sadness, frustration and infuriation."

Firefighter Graeme Willis, of Acomb, said: "No one wants to go on strike. All we want is parity with similar professions, such as the police or technical staff.

"Our pay should not be so low that we are eligible for family tax credits when we are doing a responsible and dangerous job."

They were speaking within minutes of news coming through that 87 per cent of FBU members had voted in favour of industrial action in support of a claim for a near-40 per cent pay rise.

The decision means there will be a series of strikes from October until December, beginning with a 48-stoppage due to start at 9am on October 29. Fire Service Minister Nick Raynsford has branded the decision "wretched and wrong," and said it will put people's lives in peril. FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said the "phenomenal result" showed the strength of feeling among members towards winning the dispute.

Humberside Police have announced that it has contingencies in place to deal with the dispute, and will work to facilitate the army in fighting fires. For example, police officers will escort military Green Goddess tenders to incidents.

North Yorkshire police said it has been preparing for a strike, and will announce details of its planned response next week.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service plans to advise businesses and entertainment venues to carry out fresh risk assessments of their premises in the wake of the vote.

Updated: 10:53 Saturday, October 19, 2002