FIREFIGHTERS in County Durham have sought public backing for their pay demands by asking shoppers to sign a petition.

Representatives from Bishop Auckland fire station were overwhelmed by the response from people in the town as they collected signatures outside Newgate Shopping Centre.

Ian Moore, Durham and Darlington Brigade Pay Campaign co-ordinator, said: "Public support has been fantastic. Everybody has been willing to sign the petition and a lot of people are very surprised at how much we are paid.

"The Fire Brigades Union has never asked for a percentage increase in our wages; we have only demanded that our national employers sit down and negotiate a new pay formula that reflects the highly skilled and motivated workforce in an already modernised fire service.

"Our members are frustrated and angry at their refusal to do this. They have been left with little option but to consider strike action - and this is the course of action they have voted overwhelmingly to take."

A meeting takes place next week between the union and the national employers and if it does not come to a satisfactory conclusion, industrial action will be taken by firefighters throughout the country.

It would be the first time in 25 years that firefighters have sought a pay rise. The last time was in 1977.

Ian Moore said: "We do not know what form of industrial action will be taken but it will be towards the end of October."