FIREFIGHTERS across East Lancashire are taking industrial action in protest at the dismissal of a recruit who was injured in training.

Most fire stations were only answering emergency calls from 6pm yesterday and a crisis meeting was held between the fire authority and the Fire Brigade Union last night.

Today Lancashire Fire Service was refusing to give out customary information to the Press.

The dispute centres around a recruit firefighter from Burnley who was injured in training and has been unable to recover his fitness. He has since been dismissed from his training course and firefighters were urged by the FBU to go on strike unless he was reinstated by 6pm yesterday.

Ian Stanworth, union branch secretary for Blackburn, said that the public had not been put at risk but firefighters have refused to carry out "menial" tasks and administration during their protest.

A spokesman for the Fire Service said: "A recruit fire-fighter was injured in training and has been unable to regain his fitness and he has been dismissed. The fire authority are taking legal advice. If he can regain his fitness he will be given a place on the September course."