FIREFIGHTERS will consider possible strike action at their union's conference next month.

Firemen and women from Sussex are among those being consulted as part of a national dispute.

Employers want to introduce greater local flexibility into firefighters' conditions of service, but the move is being opposed by the Fire Brigades Union.

Delegates at the union's conference on May 11 plan to debate a call for a national ballot on strike action if employers go ahead with their proposals.

Ernie Thornton, union representative for East and West Sussex, said: "Clearly nobody wants to strike, and we don't want to alarm people, but this is something the Fire Brigades Union feels strongly about."

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