FIRE brigade union chiefs believe the possible prosecution of a firefighter involved in a death crash as he answered an 999 call will deter his colleagues from driving duties.

They believe the case of firefighter Ian Robertson - who was involved in the fatal accident after he went through a red light - will become a test case which will be studied by all the emergency services.

Mr Robertson, aged 42, from Kearsley, was taken off driving duties in January after he was involved in the accident with a motorist in Eccles, as he was answering an emergency call.

Phillip Yates, aged 39, from Eccles, died when the 18 ton fire engine ploughed into his Ford Escort on Liverpool Road, Barton, after going through a red light.

Mr Robertson is now reportedly facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has not been suspended from his job at Eccles fire station, but was sent on a training course weeks after the fatal road traffic accident.

Today Ralph Twiss, Bolton's Fire Brigade Union representative, said he feared the high-profile case would have "major repercussions" for firefighters driving engines - and all emergency vehicles - in the future if Mr Robertson was convicted.

He said: "The case has made firefighters who drive fire engines more wary of driving engines. This may well put people off from driving engines in the future."

Fire service regulations state that firefighters must treat a red light as a give way when they have their blue flashing lights on. Other road users take precedence when they do not have blue flashing lights on.