PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is to meet firefighters whose jobs are under threat after revealing his "very real concerns" about proposed cuts in the number of stations and staff.

Mr Prentice said he was worried about plans to axe the retained crew at Colne and close Earby and Barnoldswick stations, with just one replacement station being built in the Salterforth area.

Retained firefighters have vowed to fight the proposals which would also see the axeing of crews at Barnoldswick, as well as Accrington, Haslingden, Padiham and Great Harwood.

In July, fire bosses said the proposals had been made after a study of call- outs over the past three years identified areas which had "too much" cover.

They said the six under-threat retained crews were not needed because the study had found that pumps from other stations had time to deal with their call-outs.

Mr Prentice has been busy investigating the claims of bosses and remains worried about the plans.

He explained: "I have very real concerns about the proposed loss of a pump from Colne and the amalgamation of the two stations at Earby and Barnoldswick.

"The figures show that the Colne station is very busy, and any reduction in service in West Craven is a major worry, given the number of new housing developments in the area.

"Following my meetings with Lancashire's Chief Fire Officer and a representative of the Fire Brigades Union last month, I am making arrangements to drop in on the Barnoldswick and Earby stations later this month to speak to as many as possible of the fire crew there.

"I shall also be seeing Bob Wilkinson, chair of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, at a planned meeting with Lancashire MPs when parliament returns. "

A consultation on the proposals is under way and runs until mid-November.

A final decision is expected to be made by the fire authority in December.