miners showed their support for striking fire-fighters this week, with a £1,000 donation to their hardship fund.

David Hopper, general secretary of the North-East region of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) visited the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue headquarters in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, on Monday, to show his union's support for firefighters.

Mr Hopper took with him the miners' union banner, which will remain at the station for the duration of the strike

He said: "We're looking to show solidarity with the Fire Brigades' Union and will support them as long as this dispute carries on and the whole of the FBU's cause in general. It's vitally important that the whole of the trade union movement gets behind these people."

Mr Hopper, who found himself on the picket line in the 1980s, during the miners' strikes, added: "The firefighters have more popular support than the miners ever had. It's time Brown and Blair realised the public are on the side of the Fire Brigades' Union."

The North-East branch of the NUM donated £1,000 to help out those who are particularly struggling with the loss of wages. The firefighters were also buoyed by other donations from the public. Fire Brigades' Union steward Ian Moore said since the start of the strike at 9am on Friday, people had been arriving with hot food and drinks. One person also anonymously donated £100 to their hardship fund.

Mr Moore thanked everyone who had made a donation to the firefighters and said they were 'overwhelmed' with the response from the public. He said: "Obviously we're struggling, especially as the dispute with the Government may run up until Christmas, which will put a financial burden on firefighters forced into this action. So we're very grateful to the NUM for their contribution and the support of the public."