Officials have agreed to hold a public meeting in Shipley to discuss plans to remove one of the town's fire engines.

Ward councillors have called for a meeting with West Yorkshire Fire Authority to allow residents to hear the reasons behind the controversial proposal.

Opposition in the town and surrounding areas served by Shipley fire station has been mounting since the plan to move one of the two engines to Bradford was announced in August.

A petition with more than 5,000 signatures, and the views expressed by members of the public, will be considered by the authority before it makes its final decision on February 20.

A fire authority spokesman said: "We are going to hold a public meeting in Shipley and we are trying to find a mutually agreeable date. The public consultation ends on January 2, but technically it is possible to accept representations until February 2."

Councillor Martin Love (Green, Shipley West) said he had been asking for a public meeting for the past two weeks.

"We would like them to explain their rational behind their desire to remove the fire engine, and also to listen to what people in Shipley have to say," he said.

"There has been massive concern in Shipley and the surrounding areas about this and thousands of people have signed the petition. Feelings are running very high."

The governors at a Shipley primary school are the latest organisation to state their opposition to the plans.

In a letter to West Yorkshire Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase, the chairman of governors at High Crags Primary School, Mike Pollard, wrote: "The governing body was very concerned to hear this report, as we believe the safety of our school would be at risk in the event of a fire.

"It is the view of the governing body that the decision to reduce fire cover is wrong and should be reconsidered in the light of the overwhelming objection."

The authority says the plans are a way of using their resources effectively, as Bradford is a busier station than Shipley.

But Shipley firefighters argue they will be unable to give the same cover with only one engine, and response times will suffer.

At a meeting of Shipley Area Committee, Coun John Briggs (Lib Dem, Baildon) said the authority should also consider that Shipley fire station covers the world heritage site, Saltaire, and some of Bradford's most historical buildings.