CUMBRIAN firefighters will tonight strike with colleagues across the country in their long-running dispute with the government over pensions.

The industrial action will take place between 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve and 12.30am on New Year’s Day.

Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Christmas is just an ordinary working time for firefighters, and our members have been on the front line dealing with storms, floods and other emergencies every day.

“None of us wanted these strikes, but firefighters on duty over the festive period don’t have much to celebrate this year as they are being priced out of their pensions and face the sack because the government’s can’t accept that 60 year old men and women can’t meet the same fitness standards as 20 year olds.

“We need to see genuine dialogue and real negotiations to resolve this dispute.”