Firefighters are due to stage the latest in a series of walkouts over pensions this morning.

The latest strike is from 6.30am to 8.30am today, and involves members of the Fire Brigades' Union.

The row with the government centres on the pensions paid to firefighters who retire between the ages of 50 and 60 due to ill-health or not meeting fitness standards.

Unions say firefighters who retire early will be unable to claim their full pensions despite, in some cases, decades of service.

Mark Simmons, Kent secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “There’s no one out there who wants firefighters forced to work until they’re 60. It could affect public safety.”