FIREFIGHTERS across the borough are set to be balloted on fresh strike action.

The move follows the suspension of colleagues in Salford, Broughton and Ashton on Tuesday night after they refused to use new anti-terrorism decontamination equipment in a dispute over pay.

And yesterday seven firefighters from Broughton and the crews at Salford were sent home again,

Crews based at Bury, Ramsbottom and Whitefield were continuing to work as normal yesterday while national talks were being held to resolve the dispute.

If there is no quick solution, 2,000 firefighters in Greater Manchester will be balloted.

Firefighters say they are still owed a 3.5 per cent wage rise promised in November and believe the remainder of their 16 per cent pay deal would not be forthcoming in July.

The outstanding increase has been withheld by employers across the country until modernisation of the fire service is complete.

However, a senior firefighter from Bury has urged the national employers to pay the increase to prevent a new strike.

Station Officer Bill Gibbon, who is based at Whitefield, said: "We have always agreed with modernisation of the fire service. In Greater Manchester, we have trained to use the anti-terrorism equipment and defibrillators and have led the way in community fire safety work for many years.

"We have met our commitments and it is up to the employers to recognise our efforts and pay up what is owed."

Greater Manchester's County Fire Officer, Barry Dixon said: "I cannot support firefighters who are telling me that they will determine what incidents they respond to."