A COUNCILLOR has called for firefighters to put the recent pay dispute behind them and work together to make improvements to the service.

Councillor Gordon Tennant, who is stepping down as chairman of the County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority, said it had been an emotional and difficult time for firefighters, but it was now time to move on.

Firefighters last week accepted a pay deal that will see their annual salary rise to £25,000 from next July.

The deal, which followed a prolonged dispute culminating in a series of strikes, was approved by the Fire Brigades Union.

Coun Tennant said: "We recognise that it has been a difficult time for all involved and that many of the issues raised cannot be brushed aside.

"But we do feel that the time is now right to move on. There are some excellent examples where fire services have embraced change and developed new methods of operating.

"Now we must also develop a sharing and supportive network of consultation between ourselves, the firefighters and the communities we work within to ensure that the service does the best job it can with the resources available."

Mr Tennant added: "The most important thing is that the public receive a constantly improving service and this can only be achieved with everybody moving in the same positive direction."