CONSULTANTS were paid £11.7million last year over plans for new fire control centres, prompting an angry response from union leaders.

The Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) has attacked the money spent on the plans, which include closing Lancashire's control room and relocating it in one for the North West in Warrington.

A spokesman for the FBU said members were particularly angered at the spending on consultants given that firefighters' posts were being cut.

In Lancashire last month, a retained crew at both Barnoldswick and Great Harwood were axed after fire bosses said there was not enough work for them.

The Lancashire control room at Fulwood is due to close in 2009 and be replaced by a regional centre 31 miles away in Warrington, which will cover five counties.

The FBU said the latest figures amounted to £32,000 a day, equivalent to a year's pay for a firefighter.

A FBU spokesman added: "Hundreds of frontline posts are being cut and it looks as though the money is going seamlessly into the pockets of consultants.

"It is a staggering amount of money.

"These figures show the amount of money being wasted on a project that no-one wants."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said that people were needed "in the short term with specialist skills to deliver the fire control project.

"Therefore, alongside civil servants and fire and rescue service personnel, we need to employ specialists."