The busiest one-appliance fire station in West Yorkshire will not receive an extra fire engine until later this year because of a staffing shortage across the brigade.

Fairweather Green fire station, Bradford, was due to receive the appliance early next month when Pudsey fire station closes and is merged with Bramley at a new £1.8 million station in Stanningley, Leeds.

But officials have delayed the move - which would bring an additional 28 firefighters to the Thornton Road station - until October.

Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase said the strike had a knock-on effect on staff levels because they had been forced to cancel a recruits course for 34 new firefighters in January and they were losing other staff through retirement.

He said they could not guarantee when instructors will be available because of industrial action and calls to the FBU to exempt training staff were refused.

"I am very disappointed this has happened but the fire authority remains committed to that engine going to Fairweather Green," said Mr Toase.

"It is unfortunate but, because of the industrial action, it is not going to be going there as soon as we planned."

Fairweather Green firefighters attended 2,045 calls last year compared to 1,254 for the nearest other one-appliance station in Bingley.

The station covers a densely-populated area from Queensbury to Manningham which is also classed as having a higher risk of fires.

Sean Cahill, secretary of the West Yorkshire Fire Brigades' Union, said the delay was disappointing and put extra pressure on staff.

"If there is a property fire it requires a minimum of two appliances so the majority of calls on the Thornton Road corridor are backed up by Bradford.

"Consequently if they are busy at a car fire you need two other appliances to come in from other stations."

He said no other fire service had cancelled its recruitment course which worried members who are already under pressure due to staff shortages.

One of the key points agreed in the merger of Pudsey and Bramley stations was the assurance that one of the engines would transfer to Fairweather Green.