Tony Blair thanked the Army for their efforts on the last day of the fire strike yesterday, telling soliders: "Well done boys, you've been magnificent."

The PM took time out of his schedule for an early visit to a Territorial Army centre.

He wanted to show his gratitude for the way that Green Goddess crews have coped during the eight day strike.

The Prime Minister arrived at the TA centre in Darlington, Co Durham, to watch the 40th regiment Royal Artillery run through a training session on Red and Green Goddesses.

He saw army personnel use high pressure water cannons to put out a fire in a car which was set up by Sgt Nigel Woodward.

Sgt Woodward said: "The Prime Minister asked me how long it took us to convert from the Green Goddesses to the more modern red engines.

"We told him it didn't take us very long because they are base don the same concept as the green engines but are quicker and handle a lot better.

"We told him that the Red Goddesses have put more confidence in the public as well as ourselves and are helping to hit quicker response times on emergency calls.

"He thanked us for out duties and said we had done a maginificent job throughout the the strike.

"This is a great boost to the confidence for all the Army crews across the country.

"To have the Prime Minister praise us like this, it is good to know our work has been appreciated."

However Mr Blair ran the gauntlet as he left the TA centre after a group firefighters arrived to barrack him.

As he was driven away the firemen yelled: "Why don't you come and talk to us Blair - you are a coward."

One of the protesters said: "He has found time to come to speak to the army and thank them for their efforts.

"But he refuses to talk to the firefighters about the pay issue that caused the strike in the first place."

The Army proved their worth once more by tackling two blazes in the North East. Two women and five children were plucked from a blazing house in Wallsend, North Tyneside by police and Army crews.

The children were rescued by police officers as the Green Goddess crew tackled the fire.

Police said the cause of the blaze was being investigated as it may be "suspicious."

And in Stockton-on-Tees, 50 soldiers tackled a major blaze at the former Mecca bingo hall, which collapsed as the fire tore through it.