Fire crews on 24-hour watch?

FIRECREWS may find themselves in a new 24-hour shift pattern with beds being brought back into stations.

Stations throughout Greater Manchester with low levels of night call-outs, are being considered for trials of the new system.

The plans would see firefighters on duty for 24 hours — getting paid their usual pay for the first 12 hours and then only 30 per cent pay for the next 12 ‘on-call’ hours in specially designed bedrooms.

But Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton stations have been told they will not be included in the new system.

Fire chiefs said that Lancashire stations already carrying out the scheme, have saved £400,000 a year per station.