Outraged Essex firefighters were on a strict "999 calls only" service yesterday (Thursday) after a row over disciplinary action.

The secretary of the Essex branch of the Fire Brigades Union instructed its members to take industrial action at 6pm on Wednesday, sparked by a dispute over disciplinary procedures taken against two members of staff.

It means all the officers' housekeeping activities - including cleaning and maintenance of engines and community work - will be dropped until further notice.

However, a spokesman from the fire service management said no opportunity had yet been given to discuss any alternative course of action with aggrieved employees.

He said: "This proposed action is clearly illegal and would be termed as "action short of strike action. It is astonishing the union has found it necessary to impose this extreme action.

"Discipline regulations already provide an agreed means to determine whether charges are justified and to use industrial action to seek to influence these is entirely inappropriate."

The FBU was unavailable for comment.

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