Members of the Fire Brigades Union voted to take further industrial action in relation to the ongoing dispute with the Government over pensions.

The FBU announced today that members had voted in favour of action short of a strike.

A report last week revealed that strike action by firefighters, which has occurred on four occasions in September and November this year, had so far cost West Yorkshire Fire Authority £233,600.

West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Officer Dave Walton said: “Naturally we are disappointed with the result of the ballot.

"The proposal for ‘action short of a strike’ will run in parallel to the existing programme of strike action, and we are as yet unclear what form this action will take.”