‘FURIOUS’ fire crews across the country may strike in the autumn in reaction to planned changes to their pensions.

And the industrial action could affect Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich residents if Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service support the move.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has put the Government on notice of a nationwide strike following proposals to increase contributions to the main Firefighter Pension Scheme, raise the pension age to at least 60, scrap all existing firefighter pensions schemes by 2015 and introduce a completely new programme.

Other points of contention include cutting the value of pensions and basing them on career earnings and not final salary.

The union said that the proposed changes would have a ‘devastating’ impact on morale and be a ‘toxic brew’ to swallow for firefighters.

It is currently consulting firefighters across the UK and said there is ‘huge support’ for industrial action, which would be likely in autumn Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The pensions robbery is a crude smash and grab raid on firefighter pension rights to help pay for the budget deficit.

“It is nothing to do with long-temr sustainability or affordability.

“These proposals have been drafted by people who are completely ignorant of the real work firefighters are required to do.

“It is daft to expect people of 60 and beyond to work as an operational firefighter.

“Even the very fittest will struggle to do that, it will not work in the real world.

“The pensions contributions rise will lead to an exodus from the main scheme with as many as one in four firefighters saying they will leave it.

“That will cost the taxpayer and extra GBP 210 million, no savings at all, and undermine the scheme.

“We are not going to pay for the mistakes of those who broke the banks by their own greed and stupidity.

“The Government is not going to be allowed to gamble with our pensions in the same way.”

Paul Hancock, chief fire officer at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service , said: “We have not yet received any formal notifiction that our firefighters intend to take part in any national industrial action. However, we already have in place plans and procedures that will enable us to continue to protect the communities of Cheshire with fewer numbers of staff. Although this is obviously something we wish to avoid, we are confident that the safety of the public will be maintained should a strike occur.”