Union leaders say the move could leave them short staffed

The Fire Brigades Union said members in Grantham, Lincs, had refused an order to provide an ambulance service and could be balloted over action.

The union claims the local fire authority has tried to impose changes to working practices.

Managers said dealing with medical cases is part of their contracts.

Barry Foster, the union's brigade secretary in Lincolnshire, said: "No one wants a dispute but if the managers refuse to consult or talk, then we have no option.

I hope the firefighters will see sense Mike Thomas, Deputy Chief Fire Officer

"What they want makes as much sense as ordering us to provide police or social services.

"The public are at risk when we are tied up answering ambulance calls and not providing a fire service, and firefighters are at risk if we are attending incidents short-handed."

Lincolnshire's Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mike Thomas, said he would speak to the firefighters in Grantham in a bid to resolve the row.

Dealing with medical calls was part of a firefighter's contract of employment and was part of the pay deal agreed with the FBU, he said.

Mr Thomas warned that firefighters could be suspended from duty or have 10% of their pay suspended for refusing to deal with medical calls, adding: "I hope the firefighters will see sense."

Earlier this year it was recommended that three firefighters from Grantham should be expelled from the union for taking part in a scheme to answer 999 ambulance calls.