Fire stations across Birmingham and the West Midlands were left unmanned as firefighters staged their first strike in a decade.

Crews at every station walked out for four hours yesterday in a protest against changes to their pensions.

Between 12pm and 4pm, all firefighters who are members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) downed tools and manned picket lines.

During the strike period, cover was provided by non-FBU members, officers and managers.

The 999 control room was operating as normal as staff there were not part of the industrial action.

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Although the brigade is staying tight-lipped about how it was providing cover, firefighters on the picket line said they believed in the days leading up to the strike engines and appliances were moved to “strategic locations” such as TA bases in preparation to be used.

The dispute is because the Government wants to raise firefighters’ retirement age from 55 to 60 and make them pay more into their pensions every month.

At Highgate station today, every member of blue watch walked out at midday on the dot. They stood with their placards on the busy Highgate Road and waved to motorists who honked their horns in support.

One firefighter said: “It’s not about having to work till we’re 60, it’s the fact that if we fail a fitness test we’ll be sacked on the grounds of competency.

“How on earth can you expect a guy of 58 or 59 to pass the same fitness test as a younger man?” His colleague said: “I’ll be paying an extra £42 a month into my pension but when I retire will actually get a smaller pension.”

Another firefighter also rubbished the Government’s claims that the pension offer was generous.

He said: “They can claim whatever they want, but that isn’t what we signed up for, and they’re not the ones risking their lives like we are.”

Another was not optimistic about their chances of the strike making the Government change its mind.

“We’re not expecting anything to massively change, but its about being able to fight for our own rights,” he said.

All the firefighters said they did not want to be on strike and hoped that the Government would get back around the negotiating table.