Firefighters' union representatives and their employers are to meet again on Wednesday to continue pay talks aimed at preventing a national strike.

On Tuesday evening the two sides finished a day of discussions in central London about the union's demand for a 40% pay rise to �30,000 a year.

The meeting followed a decision by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) not to go ahead with an eight-day walkout which would have started on Wednesday.

FBU leaders say the new strike date is 'a line in the sand'

A 4% offer has already been rejected and FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said firefighters would stage a 48-hour strike on 13 November if an agreement was not reached.

He said the new strike date was an "absolute line in the sand".

The talks could continue right to the deadline if no agreement is reached.

A spokesman for the employers said: "We continue to make steady progress."

Unofficial action

Dozens of firefighters from London, Essex and Derbyshire had lobbied the executive members to show their patience was running out in the absence of a new pay offer.

The decision to call off strike action for a second time did not please all FBU members.

Some London firefighters continued their unofficial industrial action on Tuesday in protest.

Firemen and women at five stations in the capital answered only 999 calls for a few hours.

Strike dates

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

But they told BBC London on Tuesday evening they would resume a full service while waiting for the outcome of the negotiations.

Mr Gilchrist said there was agreement for a new pay formula for the fire service linked to the pay of professional employees.

And local authorities had also accepted the union's claim for pay parity for retained firefighters and control room officers.

The union called off two 48-hour strikes planned for last week and the weekend to hold new talks with local authority employers.

The employers argue that any pay offer must be linked to modernisation.

They also want a recommendation from a government-backed inquiry which is not recognised by the union.

In the event of strikes, the Army - backed by the Royal Navy and RAF - will provide cover with 827 Green Goddess fire engines and a reported 12,500 troops.

They will be joined by 4,000 part-time firefighters with the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU).

Tube drivers' unions will consider striking, if their members' safety cannot be guaranteed.