FIREFIGHTERS from Bolton were demonstrating outside the Greater Manchester Fire service headquarters today in protest against planned spending cuts.

The crews claim up to 30 jobs could be lost, vital fire fighting machinery will be shared between stations and night cooks at fire stations face the sack, and warn that strike action could be just around the corner.

The Bolton crews joined Fire Brigade Union colleagues from thoughout Greater Manchester to lobby members of the county's fire and civil defence authority.

The authority was meeting this morning to discuss plans to axe cooks who serve up food during the night shift and alter front line fire cover. If that happens the FBU fear there will be unilateral changes to work routines.

FBU secretary Howard Western said: "Attacks on front line services, conditions of service and local agreements cannot go unchallenged."

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