A FLEET of modern fire engines remained unused across the region as military firefighters battled blazes in 50-year-old Green Goddesses, it was confirmed last night.

Now pressure is growing to use the reserve tenders in the event of an eight-day strike starting next week.

House of Commons library figures show that there are 27 reserve and training appliances in the North-East and North Yorkshire, which MP Anne McIntosh said could be used to supplement the ageing fleet of Green Goddesses.

She said: "These fire engines are not owned by trade unions.

"They were paid for by taxpayers' money to save lives. We should not let outdated views about crossing picket lines harm public safety."

The MP for Vale of York said that the reserve appliances should be used to train troops in using modern vehicles and equipment.

She added: "I pay tribute to the troops who are having to provide cover during the firefighters' strike. They must be given access to modern firefighting equipment."

North Durham MP Kevan Jones said the engines should be deployed, adding: "If they are available, and the defence professionals are properly trained to use them, I can see no reason why they shouldn't be used."

The library figures reveal that there are 443 reserve appliances around the country, including seven in North Yorkshire, five in County Durham and Darlington, three in Cleveland, nine in Tyne and Wear, and three in Northumberland.

The non-striking Retained Firefighters Union said soldiers could be trained to use the engines within two weeks.

But Steve Gregg, Northern regional organiser of the Fire Brigades Union, dismissed that.

He said: "I think its absolutely pathetic. We train 16 weeks just to enter our jobs. There's no way on God's earth we'd let raw recruits drive our engines.

"There's nothing we can do to stop them using the reserve fleet but at the end of the day it's the professionalism of the people that use them that counts."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said there were about 100 engines which could be used at present.

However, he said the military was more effective on Green Goddesses.

A Government spokesman said last night that there were no immediate plans to train soldiers to use the reserve appliances, although all options were being looked at.

"Contingency arrangements are kept constantly under review. We have taken account of the operational advice that we have received that the system in place is the most effective we can provide," he said.