Keighley firefighters are set to join colleagues in a national strike next week.

The Fire Brigades Union has announced today that its members will walk out for four hours next Wednesday, September 25, between noon and 4pm, in a dispute over planned changes to pensions.

Last month the Keighley News exclusively revealed that members of the public and ex-firefighters were being recruited by the West Yorkshire brigade as part of a contingency plan to provide emergency cover in the case of a strike.

More than 300 people came forward to man and drive fire engines.

A brigade spokesman said this afternoon: “Our contingency arrangements have recently been tested by way of exercises and we are confident that we can provide as effective a service as possible.

“However, we are asking everyone – including members of the public and business communities – to play their part in preventing fires and other emergency incidents.”