FIREFIGHTERS on Merseyside have returned to work after an agreement between the Fire Authorities and the Fire Brigades Union was reached over the weekend.

The decision was made after chief fire officer Malcolm Saunders backed down on controversial plans to promote non-uniformed staff into senior operational posts.

Members of the Fire Brigade Committee held a meeting on Monday afternoon (July 30), to ratify the deal and voted 28-2 in favour of returning to normal duties.

Jim Stevenson, local branch secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, told the Star: "We are very relieved to be back at work and fortunately no-one was hurt during the strike.

"At the end of the day we have just campaigned to keep the fire service for the people and to be offered better conditions of service which hopefully will now happen in the form of proper negotiations through a disputes panel.

"Everyone wants a better relationship with the management on all levels but there needs to be a chance to progress up the ladder when the right opportunity arises.

"We have had no new recruits on Merseyside for the last three years and we are operating in the region of 100 people down compared to other areas of the country.

"We would like to see a proper promotion system in place were people do exams and get rewarded for their success. It is important that the people of St Helens are given a chance to enter the service and know what it is like to be part of a team set up.

"Finally on behalf of all firefighters, we want to thank the public for their support in what has been a very difficult time and the way in which a petition was signed throughout the town in favour of our plight."