A POLICE chief has warned that the firefighters' strike could affect the force's ability to tackle crime if it drags on.

The first stoppage in 25 years ends at 6pm today with the start of a further eight-day walkout due to begin next week.

But firefighters on the frontline are digging in for a long battle with any hope of a resolution to the paydispute appearing more remote than ever.

Superintendant Michael Matthews, head of from Maidstone and Malling Police, claims extension of strike action into the New Year could spell trouble for the force. Kent Constabulary is playing a vital role alongside the military and firechiefs in answering emergency calls normally answered by the fire-brigade.

Mr Matthews said: "All the Green Goddesses are being supported by officers as a matter of course partly because they know the area and to provide access through busy traffic. We are also acting as advanced spotters to check the seriousness of the call to prevent time being wasted by hoaxes and to allow priorities to be made."

At present off-duty police officers are being called in to cover the emergency response but this will only be able to continue for a limited time. Mr Matthews stressed: "If it continues it will have an impact on local policing. We still need to give officers time off.

"We would also like to use these officers for other proactive operations such as raids or police road checks. Diverting these resources potentially has an impact on out ability to tackle crime in the long term. In the short term we will manage but we are hoping for a speedy resolution to it."

AN ARMY crew battled with a car fire in Ashford lst night. Black smoke billowed across Canterbury Road, Kennington, at 5pm after the vehicle went up in flames.

A Green Goddess arrived on the scene within 10 minutes but soldiers spent some time trying to find water hydrants. They took around 10 minutes to put out the blaze after the hoses had been connected.

Traffic around Ashford came to a standstill as the A28 Canterbury Road was closed and cars trailed back around the town's ringroad and to junction nine of the M20.

MEANWHILE, fire crews at Sittingbourne say they have received strong support from the public. Firefighter Steve Beckwith, the Fire Brigades Union representative at Sittingbourne, said of their industrial action: "It's been going really well. We have overwhelming public support since 6pm on Wednesday evening when the strike began.

"We have been offered tea, coffee, food and even timber for our brazier, plus money for our strike fund. The amount of drivers who have tooted their horns has been high."

He added: "In the event of a life-threatening incident happening we will hopefully be informed either by members of the public or the other emergency services and we will respond, just as other firefighters have done."