Firefighters may stage more strikes if they reject a compromise deal agreed by their union at a conference in Brighton.

The 250 delegates of the Fire Brigades Union voted 2-1 to recommend proposals by Professor Frank Burchill, the independent chairman of the service's negotiating body, as a basis for a settlement.

The leadership voted 31,859 in favour of the Burchill proposals and 15,829 against after hours of talks at the FBU conference at the Hilton Metropole Hotel yesterday.

The proposals are seen as an acceptable step because they are a move towards agreed, rather than imposed, change.

There will be branch meetings throughout the country to decide the union's next move.

As he left the Metropole last night, FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said he could not rule out the possibility of further strikes if a deal was not hammered out.

He said: "It is obviously a possibility because that was a decision that was taken today but we would much rather, for the nation and for the fire service, have a negotiated settlement.

"It is possible the Burchill proposals may indeed be the resolution to this long running dispute."

Earlier, the conference had agreed strikes would not take place while the Iraq war continued.

Last night's decision means the FBU could press ahead with national talks.

Delegates yesterday overwhelmingly rejected the latest offer from the national employers which was worth 16 per cent over three years but tied to changes in working practices.

Steve Huggins, chairman of the East Sussex Fire Brigades Union, said: "We will put the proposals to branch members, have talks with our employers, and then try to come to a decision at a recalled conference. I am hoping there will be no more strike action but we are a democratic union and it is up to the members."