Fire Brigade union officials decided to suspend their first two strikes following internal meetings.

The move, followed "constructive" talks on Friday with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Public Safety Minister Des Browne said the decision was "good news for Northern Ireland".

It's certain to say we are more optimistic now than we've been at any time over recent weeks and months

Jim Barbour Fire Brigades Union

"I'm pleased that the Fire Brigades Union has agreed to sit down with the employers for talks on pay and modernisation.

"It's in all our interests that this dispute is resolved," said Mr Browne. Officials spent all of Saturday in closed meetings before making the decision to suspend the first strikes.

The first two-day strike was due to start on Tuesday while the next was scheduled for 2 November.

The union has warned that if no progress was made, strikes planned from 6 November onwards will go ahead.

Review brought forward

Firefighters across the UK are campaigning for a 40% pay rise.

There is speculation the government had signalled it would improve a rejected offer of 4% before an independent pay review in December.

Mr Prescott said he would bring forward various pay and modernisation elements of the review into the fire service by Queen's University Vice-Chancellor Sir George Bain to aid an end to the strikes.

In Northern Ireland, about 900 full-time firefighters and 800 part-time or retained officers, who belong to the main union, were planning to take part in the stoppage.

Des Browne welcomed union's decision

Jim Barbour, the local leader of the Fire Brigades Union, said he was optimistic that the dispute could now be resolved.

"There will be a period of negotiations with our national employers.

"Obviously we will have to meet our local officials in Northern Ireland on Monday and indeed, similar meetings will take place across the whole of the United Kingdom," said Mr Barbour.

"It's certain to say we are more optimistic now than we've been at any time over recent weeks and months."

Union members are demanding a 39% pay rise for firefighters and a 51% increase for control room staff to bring both groups up to a �30,000 a year basic wage.

With only a 4% interim pay increase on offer along with a pledge to implement the inquiry findings, six periods of industrial action lasting up to eight days were planned before Christmas.

It is understood that about 32 Army Green Goddesses - painted yellow for use in Northern Ireland - and about 150 members of the separate Retained Firefighters Union will be available to respond to emergencies on strike days if a resolution is not reached.