A FIREFIGHTER whose wages were docked for having time off to donate bone marrow is to get his money back after a U-turn by bosses.

Mark McCracken, 44, of Colne, who is based at Blackburn station, is to be given back the five days' pay after the Lancashire Fire Authority considered the case yesterday.

Chiefs said they had now created a policy to deal with similar cases and that in future those needing time off for elective surgery would receive full pay.

Mr McCracken said: "I would like to thank the Lancashire Telegraph for highlighting the issue and helping me get my wages back.

"I can now give the money back to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, who have subsidised my lost wages.

"This was money the charity could ill afford to lose.

"Now firefighters don't have to worry about losing out financially if they want to take time off to medically help others."

Bosses at the Fire Brigades' Union said they were pleased the fire service had changed its mind.

The docking of the wages caused outrage among Mr McCracken's colleagues and Coun Jean Rigby, a Blackburn with Darwen Council member of the fire authority, said she was appalled by the decision.

At the time bosses at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said all requests for leave were looked at with a set of consistent criteria and Mr McCracken had been granted special leave.

Earlier this week we reported how Mr McCracken had been inundated with letters and message of support.

Mr McCracken was contacted by doctors at the Anthony Nolan Trust, which runs a bone-marrow register, in November to say he had been matched with a teenage girl suffering from a life-threatening blood cancer.

He had applied for leave to travel to London but Lancashire fire bosses told him he could go for the operation but said he would not be paid.

Mr McCracken who also works part time at Briggs Sheet Metal Fabrication, Accrington, had two weeks off work and was docked five days' wages.

The trust stepped in and re-imbursed Mr McCracken for his lost pay - in line with their policy of making sure no one is out of pocket for donating bone marrow.