FIREFIGHTERS in Kent have voted unanimously in favour of a national ballot on strike action in their ongoing pay dispute with their employers.

More that 50 representatives of whole-time, retained and part-time fire stations and control staff gave their backing to a vote on industrial action at a meeting of the Kent members of the Fire Brigades Union at Ashford Fire Station on Tuesday night.

Kent branch chairman Mark Simmons said: “There was a great feeling of unity there from all the sections within the union. Everyone is very determined.”

Mr Simmons is representing Kent at the union’s recalled annual conference in Manchester today, where Fire Brigade staff from across the country are expected to agree to ballot all union members on nation-wide industrial action.