Local authority officials are considering their options ahead of new talks with firefighters' leaders, after the first two planned fire brigade strikes were suspended.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) informed the government on Saturday it would call off the first two 48-hour strikes following "constructive" talks on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said a review of firefighters' pay - which had been due in December - would have certain elements brought forward to help end the dispute.

This is very good news for the whole country

John Prescott

The union is seeking a 40% pay rise to take an experienced firefighter's pay to �30,000, and will hold further talks with the local authority employers on Wednesday and Thursday.

They have only offered 4%, saying any improved offer will have to be paid for by the government, a prospect that now seems more likely.

Local authority spokesman John Ransford said: "We are obviously very pleased that they have called off next week's strikes which we always said were unnecessary.

"Our position remains the same - further progress on pay and modernisation must go hand in hand."

"I hope that this can now lead to a final settlement of the dispute," said Mr Prescott.

The employers will meet on Monday before holding the fresh talks with union officials.

FBU officials spent all of Saturday in closed meetings before making the decision to suspend the first strikes.

Military "Green Goddess" fire engines are primed for action

Union general secretary Andy Gilchrist telephoned Mr Prescott to tell him the news.

The union then issued a brief statement late on Saturday afternoon saying it had agreed to meet employers on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The union has always agreed that this is the correct and proper machinery for dealing with pay," it said.

The FBU has warned that if no progress was made strikes planned from 6 November onwards would go ahead.

The first 48-hour strikes had been due to take place from Tuesday until Thursday, and from next Saturday until the following Monday.

President of the Fire Chiefs' Association, Jeff Ord, told BBC News 24 he was delighted with the news, for the public's sake.

Strike dates

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

"It could have gone a step further and suspended strike action altogether until the independent review had been published," he said.

"Hopefully we can get all the strikes suspended and move forward."

Mr Ord said it was useful to get employers back to the table with the unions but he warned that the review should not be fragmented.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy also welcomed the union's move.