Fire chiefs in West Yorkshire say the service was called to 11 incidents during a walkout by firefighters on Christmas Eve.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) held their seventh strike this year, in a row over proposed changes to pensions, from 7pm until midnight.

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) said it “implemented its contingency plans successfully” and there were no major callouts for the service.

A spokesman said “incidents of note” included an oil drum outside a shop on fire in Bank Street, Shipley, at 7.28pm.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Beckley said: “We are thankful that the Christmas Eve strike period has passed without major incident.

“Our contingency crews have once again provided an effective, though much reduced, level of cover for the five-hour period.

“Our request for the community to take extra care during this festive period has worked to good effect and we hope that people now enjoy the Christmas period safe in the knowledge that firefighters have returned to work and are providing the normal, excellent, level of service.”

In North Yorkshire, there were three minor incidents for firefighters during the strike period.