HUNDREDS of part-time firefighters were last night planning to break strike action - and risk the wrath of their full-time colleagues.

Up to two-thirds of North Yorkshire's 370 retained firefighters were prepared to continue working during the 48-hour strike, officials said.

The Retained Firefighters Union (RFU) claimed this was despite reports of threats and intimidation towards those breaking the strike.

The Northern Echo understands that a number of Fire Brigades Union members working in part-time rural stations in the county have opted out of the action called by their union.

Peter Cokell, a North Yorkshire representative of the RFU, which is not backing the action, said: "I have heard reports of people being intimidated, but I have not experienced it myself.

"I am working along with other people who live and work in their local community which they will continue to serve, strike or no strike.

"If they were to strike, their own friends and relatives could be seriously affected."

Last night Steve Gregg, regional organiser with the FBU, said the union had policies in place to prevent harassment and intimidation.

He added: "We have in the past asked for evidence of this to be presented to us but it never has."

Allan Pattinson, retained representative for the FBU, based at Fire Brigade Headquarters in Durham, said: "If retained staff want to work on strike days that is up to them.

"But whatever is gained by the strike action, they will gain the benefits from it."

About 20 of the 30 retained fire pumps in North Yorkshire will be operational over the next two days.

But elsewhere in the region huge swathes of rural areas will be left without retained fire cover.

Retained staff in County Durham, Cleveland and Tyne and Wear have all indicated they will join the strike action.

Members of the tiniest fire brigade in County Durham, with the biggest area to cover, say they have reluctantly lent their support to the strike.

The ten-man brigade at Stanhope, in Weardale, voted "with mixed feelings" to join their colleagues in the Fire Brigades Union, who are striking over a 40 per cent pay claim.

During the last firefighters strike - 25 years ago - they refused to take industrial action and afterwards they were subject to abuse from fellow firemen in other brigades.

George Barrass, a painter and decorator, who is sub-officer at Stanhope, said: "We are all now members of the Fire Brigades Union, and although there were mixed feelings about taking strike action, we have decided to join our colleagues.

"The bottom line in the fire service is that when you are called to an emergency and you walk through that door, you don't know what you are going to find. You put your life on the line.

"That's why we have decided to support our colleagues."

It is believed the nearest Army Green Goddess fire engine to Weardale during the threatened strike, would be stationed at Crook

The Stanhope brigade, with one fire appliance and one Land Rover, covers an area from Wolsingham in the east to Killhope in the west, north to just outside Consett and south to Shaftswell, above Middleton-in-Teesdale.