Green Goddess military fire engines across Devon and Cornwall have been stood down as firefighters returned to work after a 48-hour strike.

Full-time firefighters relieved their military cover at 1800 GMT after the walk-out by members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) who want a 40% pay increase.

There were 300 emergency fire service call-outs in the region, with only about half required a Green Goddess to attend.

But South West fire officers have condemned hoaxers who raised false alarms during the strike.

We will not try and personally stop anyone trying to take our appliances

Lee Tucker, FBU, Plymouth

Both counties were less affected than parts of the UK by the strike because they both have a large number of fire stations operated by retained firefighters not involved in the walk-out.

About 46 out of 58 stations in Devon are fully staffed by retained men and in Cornwall 24 fire stations are fully staffed by retained men.

But there were a number of malicious calls to the emergency fire services since Wednesday evening, and fire officers said when resources are tight, the calls threaten lives.

Reduced resources

Cornwall's assistant chief fire officer, Mark Yates, said: "All fire brigades and indeed all emergency services receive hoax calls, unfortunately.

"But at a time when there's a strike, we've got a much reduced level of resources and to receive hoax calls when our resources are stretched really is beyond belief."

However, members of the FBU in Devon have said they will take part in an eight-day strike due to start next Friday.

Plymouth FBU Branch Chairman Lee Tucker said: "We're not any comfortable with any of the action we've had to take.

Proper training

"We've been forced down this route by the government and our employers, but it is something that we are prepared to do to bring this to an end."

He also said that the military was not being stopped from using the red fire engines but that the proper amount of training to use the equipment was necessary.

He said: "We will not try and personally stop anyone trying to take our appliances.

"However, it takes 15 weeks of intense training to know how to use the equipment and 12 months to learn how to drive the appliances."