More strikes by firefighters in West Yorkshire have been announced in their dispute over planned changes to pensions, prompting fire chiefs to issue a safety alert to the public.

Members of the Fire Brigades’ Union are expected to strike next Friday from noon until 5pm, on Saturday from 2pm until 2am on Sunday and again on Sunday from 10am until 3pm.

Further industrial action, but short of striking, is expected from 3.01 pm on Sunday until noon the following Friday. Such action is where staff can refuse to perform certain parts of their work. The row is a national dispute but will not involve control room staff and the action follows a series of short strikes last year.

WYFRS Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Steve Beckley (above), said: “It is disappointing and concerning that negotiations between Government and the FBU have failed to deliver a mutually acceptable resolution.”