FIREFIGHTERS returned to work at 9am today after their latest pay strike and frantic efforts are now expected to avert a further walkout next week.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union across returned to duty after being on strike for 24 hours, the 11th day of action since the bitter dispute broke out last year.

About 19,000 troops provided emergency cover during the strike.

The Fire Brigades Union said today that the strike had been "100 per cent solid", but expressed hope that fresh talks could begin tomorrow at the conciliation service Acas. FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist has written to Acas chairwoman Rita Donaghy expressing hope that talks can restart "sooner rather than later".

An FBU official said as the strike ended today: "Our members remain absolutely determined to get professional pay for the service they provide.

"We are hopeful that talks can be held this week, but they will only happen if the employers drop pre-conditions.

"Our members don't want to be on strike - it is always a last resort."

Firefighters are due to walk out again, for 48 hours, from next Tuesday and again on February 1 if the deadlock is not broken.

In Bolton, the army's Green Goddess fire engines attended just two incidents during the 24-hour strike.

The first was a shed fire in Forest Road, Smithills, just after 3.15pm yesterday, followed by a car crash in Stapleton Avenue, Delph Hill, at 7.10pm.

Across Greater Manchester the crews attended 51 incidents during the strike. The worst was a shop fire in Oldham.

Two Green Goddesses and a red fire-engine were called just before 7pm. No one was hurt but the army crews spent more than two hours fighting the flames.

It was generally quiet across the country, but a body was found in a suspicious car fire tackled by two Green Goddess crews in Penzance, Cornwall, just after 2am today.

Yesterday an elderly man died in Glasgow just after 2.30pm.

A police spokesman said it was 27 minutes before soldiers were able to get into the man's house to fight the chip pan fire. He was found dead inside.

John McDonald, executive member of FBU Scotland said the tragedy highlighted the need for a quick end to the strike.

He said: "The sooner we have trained firefighters back on the streets the better."