Firefighters in Merseyside have called off a strike which left the region without emergency cover.

They returned to work after reaching an agreement with management after a brigade officer was suspended.

He was being disciplined following allegations about the content of a website published during a previous dispute two months ago.

The move prompted firefighters in the region's 26 stations to stage a walk-out.

'Broke agreement'

Neil Thompson, regional chairman of the Fire Brigade Union, said: "We were told the member was being suspended.

"We believed the action broke the back-to-work agreement we made at the end of the strike and that led to members at all the fire stations going on strike.

"We have now reached an agreement which means the member is on special leave."

National officers from the FBU are due to meet management from the Merseyside Fire Brigade to discuss the issue later this week.

The row relates to the content of a website which we set up during the strike.

In a statement, the union said: "This [the suspension] is in total contravention of the return-to-work agreement hammered out at the end of the recent industrial action.

"This spontaneous action is in response to the bullying and aggressive management of Merseyside Fire Brigade."

'Hugely irresponsible'

A spokesman for the Merseyside Fire Authority said before the strike ended, the action was "illegal and hugely irresponsible".

He said: "I've never known the union do this before... if your house goes on fire in Merseyside it's tough."

The last strike, which ended after two weeks in July, was supported by firefighters from around the UK.

It was over proposals to appoint non-uniformed staff to senior posts within the Merseyside Fire Service.