CONSERVATIVES on Hyndburn Council are set to call on county bosses to re-think a decision to axe a part-time Accrington fire crew.

Tory group leader Peter Britcliffe is asking the borough's six county councillors to support a motion to save the retained crew.

One of the town's three engines and 10 firefighters face the axe following sweeping budget cuts announced by the Combined Fire Authority last month.

The final fate of the crew is in the hands of Home Secretary Jack Straw but the firefighters are resigned to the cuts when the county sets its budgets tomorrow.

Councillor Britcliffe is set to introduce the motion at a full Hyndburn Council meeting on March 2.

He said: "Hyndburn cannot afford to lose the level of cover that this decision would inflict on the borough.

"Any cutback is worrying, particularly for people living in East Lancashire, because we do face an increased risk with the number of chemical plants in the area."

County councillor Wendy Dwyer, a member of the Combined Fire Authority, said: "I will be replying to councillor Britcliffe in writing but I cannot comment further at this stage."

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