FIRE Brigade Union chiefs are paying to charter a train which will take Bolton protesters to join a huge march against the war in Iraq.

The North West branch of the FBU is stumping up £4,000 for the train which will join coaches heading for the event in central London a week on Saturday.

Firefighters came in for crticism from Tory shadow defence spokesman Bernard Jenkins last month for striking at a time when 40,000 British troops are deployed in the Gulf. Some 20,000 soldiers using Green Goddesses have provided cover for them.

Mr Jenkins branded union leaders "a bunch of idiots" and accused them of "throwing the armed forces into crisis."

But Bob Pounder, FBU branch secretary for Greater Manchester, insisted there was no link between criticism about the strike and opposition to the war.

He said: "There's absolutely no connection with that whatsoever. The position of the FBU is that we have always called for the ending of sanctions against Iraq for humanitarian reasons and obviously we oppose a war which is being fought purely to seize the Iraqi oil reserves.

"There are two separate issues here. One is the right of a sovereign international state like Iraq to resolve its own matters. The other is the right of firefighters to a living wage."

The FBU action has ben praised by Malcolm Pittock, secretary of Bolton Stop The War Coalition/CND.

Mr Pittock said: "It's great that the FBU have done this, particularly at a time when there is a drain on their resources because there is an industrial dispute.

"They have consistenly opposed what's been happening with Iraq. It's an excellent gesture, particularly under the circumstances. It's very heartening."

The train from Bolton station at around 8pm is in addition to a coach leaving from the Sweet Green pub opposite Trinity Street Train Station at around 7am.

For further information ring Mr Pittock on (01204) 522839 or contact Paul on 0780 8063757.