FARNHAM was one of seven towns across Surrey due to set up a temporary fire station, as the local fire and rescue service joined firefighters across the country in the first national fire brigade strike in 25 years.

The 48-hour strike was due to begin on Wednesday evening - the result of an ongoing dispute over pay, with the Fire Brigade Union demanding a 40 per cent pay increase to £30,000 per year.

Responding to a proposal of 11 per cent from the executive council, Farnham FBU rep Mick Smith said: "All we are after is a living wage. If they cannot pay us that, then it is a poor show.

"The FBU was sure the talks with the government were going to be a stalling tactic, but we cancelled strikes to allow talks to continue.

"We were led to believe this was progressing, but the Bain report (on conditions and pay) is totally not what we were expecting. We are all very disappointed by this."

Mr Smith confirmed that in the event of an emergency, in which someone's life is in danger, Farnham Fire and Rescue Service will be available to deal with it.

"All calls will be going to Mount Browne police headquarters in Guildford and they will notify us of any problems.

"The doors of the station will not be locked so we can get to the equipment. At the end of the day, we don't want anyone to lose their life on account of us, if there any emergencies that is what we are here for."

A spokesperson for the MoD could not give the exact location of the temporary fire station in Farnham for security reasons, but added: "The temporary fire stations are generally set up in TA centres or police headquarters - anywhere which is geared up to handling personnel equipment."

Fourteen Green Goddesses, the oldest working fire engine in the western world, will cover the whole of Surrey, with other temporary stations at Chertsey, Epsom, Guildford, Pirbright, Redhill, and Godalming.

The Army is supported by seven breathing apparatus resuscitation teams and one rescue equipment support team crewed by the Navy.

A series of eight-day strikes are planned for November 22 and December 4 and 16.