KENT firefighters are said to be "absolutely furious" over what they claim is the derailing of their pay agreement by the Government.

Crews at the Canterbury station will be among firefighters nationwide balloted next week on whether to take strike action.

But Kent and Canterbury FBU representative John Saynor said the crews were so angry that he anticipated most would vote to stop work.

He said: "They are absolutely furious and it is very hard to get them motivated at the moment because of the wrecking actions by the Government."

The row is over what the FBU say is the failure to implement a pay agreement which followed the last industrial action. A dispute remains over public holidays but Mr Saynor says that whatever the FBU agree to, the Government seems to find another blocking tactic.

He added: "There has been a lot of Government spin but we have been put in this position by their intervention. I think if the public really knew how our agreement was being derailed, they would support us."

If the vote goes in favour of striking, the earliest action could be taken is Tuesday, September 7.

Harry Sawyer, the Kent secretary of the FBU, told KM-fm walkouts seem inevitable...