PUBLIC opinion of the proposed Fire Brigades Union strikes is mixed. On Tuesday The Comet asked shoppers in Hitchin what they thought about the two eight-hour strikes on Monday and Saturday next week and although some people believed the strikes were just

PUBLIC opinion of the proposed Fire Brigades Union strikes is mixed.

On Tuesday The Comet asked shoppers in Hitchin what they thought about the two eight-hour strikes on Monday and Saturday next week and although some people believed the strikes were justified others thought lives could be threatened.

Penny Mitchell, 57, said she was concerned the strikes could put lives at risk.

She said: "If the Government gets their way in filling this place up with more and more houses, and there are strikes which will take away the people who are employed to put out fires, then lives will be in peril."

Richard Worbey, 78, said although they do a good job, the firefighters cannot have it both ways.

He said: "They put their lives at risk, we shouldn't forget that. But they cannot always go on strike when they have a problem."

Road sweeper Vincent Patrick said he is worried about the strikes because he lives in a flat and would find it difficult to escape.

"If it burns down I'm done for," he said.

Other residents were more sympathetic to the strikes.

Angela Pateman, 43, said: "I have sympathy for them but I don't think they will allow for lives to be put at risk. I'm not worried about it because it's more than their job is worth."

Harry Simmons agreed with Ms Patemen.

He said: "If they're having a strike for a reason then that's fine by me. I've got no problem with that.