HUNDREDS of firefighters were urged not to strike last night.
The plea came from Ian Hayton, executive director of Cleveland Fire Brigade, as the Fire Brigades Union prepares to ballot its members over moves to share a control room with the police and ambulance service.
Mr Hayton said: "Firefighters have achieved a great deal in recent months to make a safer environment for the communities we serve and I hope and believe they will not want to throw away the goodwill they have established."
Cleveland Fire Authority has written to the Joint council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades calling for an immediate suspension of the ballot.
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