Hopes are rising that the planned firefighters' strike could be avoided, as John Prescott prepares to meet union leaders for a second time.

Talks on Thursday between the deputy prime minister and the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) - just days before the strikes are due to start - were called "constructive".

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the FBU, said Friday's meeting would continue the "difficult discussions".

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The meetings came as a poll suggested just over half of the public supported the firefighters' campaign for a 40% pay rise, from just over �21,000 to �30,000.

Strike dates

29- 31 October 2-4 November 6-14 November 22-30 November 4-12 December 16-24 December All start and end at 0900 GMT

A vote on BBC News Online indicated that almost 60% of 22,000 readers were against the strike, with just over 40% supporting strike action.

The walkout is due to start on Tuesday but Mr Gilchrist said both sides had left the talks on Thursday evening to consider a "range of issues".

The meeting had been scheduled to last only half an hour but the talks ran on for more than two hours, prompting speculation a deal could be thrashed out.

Leaving the meeting at the Cabinet Office in London, Mr Gilchrist said: "I have had a very constructive dialogue with John Prescott and we are looking at a range of issues which are all related to the pay dispute inside the fire service.

"We will be going away to consider those on both respective sides."

John Prescott has urged firefighters to accept the pay review

So far, local authority employers have offered only a 4% rise to the firefighters. Any more would have to be met by national government.

But on Thursday new party chairman Dr John Reid indicated that the government would not meet large public sector pay claims without substantial reform.