The Fire Brigades Union has threatened to hold a fresh strike ballot if any member is sacked for taking part in wildcat industrial action.

Hundreds of firemen were yesterday refusing to answer anything other than 999 emergency calls yesterday as the action spread from Manchester to a number of areas including the West Midlands, Tayside, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire and Avon.

About 2,000 FBU members in Manchester will vote on industrial action after 36 firemen from three stations in the area were suspended.