FIREFIGHTERS across the county returned to their usual duties this week after being threatened with a pay cut.

Last week firefighters from Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge, Strood, Dartford, Gravesend, Folkestone and Thameside halted routine duties to demonstrate their frustration over a pay dispute which had arisen since last year's strikes.

Although firefighters were promised a 16 per cent increase over three years, with seven per cent due by last November, firefighters were given only three per cent and are still waiting for the remainder.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16, and from Wednesday, May 19 through to the end of last week, firefighters at all nine stations answered emergency calls only. But this week, crews were back on duty as normal claiming they were threatened with reduced pay.

Firefighter Glenn Fraser, from Maidstone fire station, said: "We have been working as normal for the last week just because we didn't want a pay cut. Everyone just wants things sorted now. It's a fairly negative atmosphere."

A series of Fire Brigades Union meetings are being held across the county before June 15, when a delegation from Kent will go to Southport to indicate to national executives what Kent firefighters want to do next.