IT was business as usual at fire stations across East Lancashire last night as they kept out of an unofficial industrial action by some brigades.

Local firefighters said they were waiting to see how talks between union officials and employers later today before they would consider any action.

An estimated 23 out of 56 brigades have joined the action by working to rule and only answering 999 calls.

These firefighters say employers have gone back on their word over pay following a deal struck in June after a series of official strikes.

They had thought they would receive a seven per cent pay rise this month, but local authority employers say it will be only 3.5 per cent. The remainder will be paid next year on condition that changes being made in the fire service are complete.

Station officer Kevin Gibson at Blackburn fire station said: "I can only speak for the men on my watch and not the whole of Blackburn station, but we feel this is the action of a few hotheads up and down the country.

"We've not really had time to talk about it -- it's our busiest time of the year and all we've been doing is answering 999 calls anyway."

A firefighter at Hyndburn station, who asked not to be named, said: "It's a case of 'wait and see' as far as we're concerned, to see what the official FBU line is."

The employers said the agreement had always been that changes had to be made, and then verified by the Audit Commission - a process not expected until March. They are blaming union leaders for misleading their members.

The unofficial action by firefighters started in Norfolk and quickly spread to at least 13 counties in England, plus brigades in much of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Cardiff. Last night, there was an informal meeting between the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) chief Andy Gilchrist and the employers to set out the parameters of Wednesday's talks.