A fire service walkout set to happen tomorrow night (Saturday) has been called off.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had been due to walk out between 6.30pm and 11.30pm in a dispute over pension arrangements.

Officials from the Herts branch of the trade union have confirmed the strike will not be happening.

Fresh negotions have opened between the national FBU and the Government.

Firefighter Tony Smith said: “What we’ve been discussing over the last 24 hours doesn’t go far enough, but we’re prepared to suspend the strike action. We’ve suspended it to allow the executive committee some space.

“In Herts it was almost 100 per cent (support for the strike), they only had 15 people who were working. Everybody was fully expecting to walk out the doors.

“It’s the right decision. Hopefully we won’t have to do that again.”