COUNTY fire fighters with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will be joining the national strikes set for next month.

Crews will be out from 12pm-5pm on May 2, 2pm-2am on May 3, and 10am-3pm on May 4.

Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service has plans for retained crews to cover the county during the strikes. 

The retained crew at Ewyas Harold is already on standby as a cross-border response to parts of South Wales.

The strikes relate to a national dispute over future terms and conditions for fire fighters.

In a separate dispute, the FBU in the county has challenged Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue

Authority to put cuts that bring full-time 24/7  first response cover at Hereford fire station down to a single appliance - and no more than seven fire fighters on a shift – to a public vote.

As reported by the Hereford Times, the referendum, as proposed, would be a yes or no choice as to whether such a level of cover is acceptable for the county.