ANGRY firefighters have issued a vote of no confidence in their bosses for failing to back them fully during recent strike action.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Durham and Darlington say they have no faith in the leadership of chief fire officer George Herbert or the fire authority.

Brian Boyle, brigade secretary for the FBU in Durham and Darlington, said: "What has disappointed all the members is the behaviour and actions of not only the chief fire officer, but also the chairman of the combined fire authority, Gordon Tennant.

"The FBU brigade committee discussed these issues and there were two votes of no confidence, one in the chief and one in the fire authority and its members."

Mr Herbert angered the union when he criticised striking firefighters in Darlington for refusing to leave the picket line to help rescue a seriously injured motorist near Rushyford, County Durham.

But Mr Boyle said the strikers in Darlington would not have been insured because they were not rostered to work and that the area was covered by a crew from nearby Spennymoor, who did break the strike to respond.

He said: "The simple matter for me is all George Herbert was seeking to do was discredit firefighters. It was disgraceful to pursue the line that he did."

Mr Boyle said there were other issues which had angered members, adding: "The bottom line is that I and the rest of the members of the brigade have little confidence in this chief or the authority. People have had enough."

The fire authority chairman, Durham County Councillor Gordon Tennant, said the criticism was discussed in public at the last full meeting of the authority.

Minutes for the meeting described the criticism of Mr Herbert as "disgraceful" and "unwarranted".

Coun Tennant said the fire authority had not accepted the criticisms and that one or two members were amazed at having received them.

Mr Herbert declined to comment.