Fire crews on 24-hour watch?

Firecrews may find themselves in a new 24-hour shift pattern with beds being brought back into stations.

Stations throughout Greater Manchester with low levels of night call-outs, are being considered for trials of the new system.

The plans would see firefighters on duty for 24 hours — getting paid their usual pay for the first 12 hours and then only 30 per cent pay for the next 12 ‘on-call’ hours in specially designed bedrooms.

Fire chiefs said that Lancashire stations already carrying out the scheme, have saved £400,000 a year per station.