FIREFIGHTERS are to hold a pay strike on January 21.

Fire Brigades Union representatives also decided not to take part in fresh talks at the conciliation service Acas next week.

Merseyside and Cheshire regional FBU chairman Neil Thompson said the 24-hour strike was "inevitable".

"The constraints put on by the government have stopped the employers from making a reasonable offer, so we have to raise the profile of the dispute again," he added.

Delegates said talks would be a waste of time as employers had made it clear they would be sticking to an 11% offer over two years but linked to modernisation.

The union will also press ahead with two 48-hour strikes on January 28 and February 1.

Union leaders from across the country, including Merseyside FBU chairman I an Foulkes, were in London to review tactics in their 40% pay dispute for a £30,000 basic salary.

Mr Foulkes said his members were " very angry" at the lack of progress.

National union leaders suspended strike action last month to build a dialogue with employers.

Employers were expected to table a 4% offer next week, followed by a further 7% later in the year in return for modern isati o n and changing work practices recommended in the recently published Bain report, which will be strongly resisted by firefighters.