Union representatives say a High Court ruling over pensions for injured firefighters could lead to a flood of claims.

Mr Justice Burton has ruled that two firefighters based at Pudsey and Idle should have been able to retire on a pension when ill health forced them to withdraw from active service.

John Lockwood, 44, was injured in an accident at Idle fire station and has served in an ancillary post since.

Stuart McCalman, 41, was dismissed when he refused to take on other duties following an injury.

West Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union chairman Malcolm Peel said the judgement could lead to a flood of claims. He said: "The authority's interpretation of the ill-health rules was that operational firefighters should be kept on in a lesser capacity with their wages frozen.

"Both firefighters referred to in the High Court case contributed hefty sums - 11 per cent of their wage -- to the pension scheme.

"But when they became injured the authority refused to retire them on a pension. Both were transferred to other roles - jobs they didn't join the service to do."

West Yorkshire Fire Authority is considering whether to appeal.

A spokesman said: "The High Court has ruled that, while it was satisfied the fire authority acted in good faith, it had misinterpreted the extent of its powers under the pension scheme.

"And on the facts of this particular case, the fire authority is required to retire two individuals. The ruling does have wider implications nationwide."

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