JAMES Bracegirdle spent four years trying to get into the fire service.

He spent six years as an engineer at Walmsleys before finally achieving his ambition -- and donned a firefighter's uniform.

James, a firefighter at Bolton North, took a £1,500 drop in wages to join the brigade.

Today he is is one of thousands of firefighters facing strike action next week.

But James, who has spent nine years in the service, says simply: "We just want fair pay for our profession."

He felt so strongly about the arguments surrounding the dispute that he wrote a letter to the Bolton Evening News which we have decided to print in full.

James, who is married with a daughter, said: "I saw a job advertised recently that had a £16,000 a year salary. There was an 18 per cent shift allowance which would take that pay up to £19,000 a year. We do not have a shift allowance in the fire service and we are not allowed to work overtime.

"I earn £21,500 a year of which 11 per cent goes to my pension. I have no choice on that. Even train drivers are paid £34,000."

James says his job is "24/7". When he is not on duty, he helps run the local "Learn Not to Burn" school quizes, and fits smoke alarms. He added: "We provide a service that no one else can -- I don't want to get into arguments about police pay -- we are putting out lives in danger to save others."

He says that had the Government allowed the employers to settle in the summer with the 16 per cent offer that was on the table, they would not be facing a national firefighters' strike next week.