The chairman of the West Yorkshire branch of the Fire Brigades' Union said today it was inevitable that firefighters from the region would join a national strike.

Steve Richards claimed there was enormous support for the industrial action in stations across Bradford.

His comments came after firefighters across the country held a work to rule protest at the breakdown of talks between the union and the employers.

About 30 forces nationwide are only responding to emergency calls.

Mr Richards said firefighters in West Yorkshire were not taking part in that protest but added that FBU members from Bradford were among five coach loads which joined thousands of firefighters who travelled to Westminster to lobby the talks yesterday.

A ballot of the union's 30,000 members will now follow and local government employees expect the strike could start by the end of October.

Councillor Mukhtar Ali, Bradford Council's leading member on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority, said lives in the region could be put at risk if the strike went ahead.

"It is unfortunate the talks have broken down because it would be better to see a negotiated settlement," he said.

"But I believe some kind of a deal could be brokered even at the last minute.

"I don't want to see the lives of our families put at risk and there is always a chance that alternative plans could be over stretched."

Green Goddesses manned by Armed Forces personnel could now be set to return to the streets of Bradford for the first time since the nine-week stoppage in 1977.

Employers' leaders have accused the FBU of a "headlong rush" to a strike ballot.

The employers had tabled a four per cent offer in response to the union demand for a near 40 per cent rise to take pay to £30,000 a year and said they were willing to make a joint submission to the Government for an independent inquiry into pay.

The union will recall its national conference on September 12 to discuss calling a ballot for strikes after the 90-minute meeting with employers made no progress.

Councillor Ted George, chairman of the Fire Employers negotiating team said: "It is extremely disappointing that there has been no agreement. But there is no need for the union to escalate our disagreement into a life-threatening strike.

"There is a way to resolve the situation without putting the public in the middle.

"Surely the solution is for a speedy independent inquiry to look at all these issues and assess the merits of each side's case."