NORTH-EAST firefighters set the tone for the coming showdown in their dispute over pay demands with a noisy mass demonstration yesterday.

More than 600 firefighters from as far afield as Darlington to Berwick and Redcar to Hexham descended on the Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade headquarters, in Newcastle, to voice their anger.

Earsplitting horns accompanied speeches at the demonstration, timed to coincide with a meeting of the Tyne and Wear Fire Authority.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is demanding a pay rise of near 40 per cent from local government employers, taking the average salary from £21,500 to £30,000. But this has been rejected by employers who have offered four per cent and a wide-ranging independent review of the fire service.

FBU executive member Alan McLean said: "We are not going anywhere near another review. We are here to save lives not money. There will be no progress in the British fire service without progress on pay.

"We want a decent settlement which reflects the dedication and professionalism of our members. Praise is not enough."

Mr McLean said the pay rise demanded by firefighters would cost rate payers only 41p a week each.

Phil Towns, of the Durham Fire and Rescue Service, echoed the feelings of most demonstrators when he said: "No one wants to go on strike, but we feel we have been backed into a corner."

Demonstrators had expected to make their feelings known to Tyne and Wear Fire Authority, but were told the members would not leave the building until the gathering dispersed.

Authority chairman Councillor Peter Young said: "This authority values its staff and is committed to achieving the going rate for the job.

"We are confident, therefore, that a pay review in accordance with the expectations of the general public could result in a significant increase in pay levels."

He added: "I sincerely hope that this issue of pay can be resolved without our firefighters resorting to strike action."

An estimated 2,700 firefighters across the North-East will take part in a union postal ballot on strike action next Monday.

The result is due to be announced on Friday, October 18, with firefightes expecting to vote overwhelmingly in favour of action.

This could be followed with a series of 24-hour or 48-hour strikes from October 25 onwards.