POLICE today pleaded with the public to be extra careful as fire crews began their latest strike action.

Officers stressed that the public had an important part to play in keeping North Yorkshire incident-free - particularly on the county's roads, where eight people had died so far this year.

Assistant chief constable Peter Bagshaw said: "The RAF teams demonstrated their competence and capabilities during previous strikes, but we all accept that they are unable to provide the same cover as the regular fire and rescue service."

As the strike took hold, more than a dozen firefighters at York Fire Station formed a picket line, and were quickly gaining support from passing motorists.

Fire Safety Officer Jon Longfield said: "We are really sick of Tony Blair. We honestly thought there would be some compromise, that the Government would not be so stupid. But they just want to beat us into a corner."

Nationally, around 19,000 troops were in place by 9am. A total of 827 ageing Green Goddess vehicles will be used in Operation Fresco

Updated: 12:02 Tuesday, January 21, 2003