Scotland's firefighters are about to submit a claim for pay rises of up to 50% - with the threat of strike action if it is rejected.

The Fire Brigades Union is seeking a minimum wage of �30,000 a year for crews and control staff.

But Scotland's local authorities, who employ the emergency services, insist they cannot afford the extra �45m that the increase would cost.

Their organisation, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), have warned union leaders not to make demands and threats.

The army mans Green Goddesses

An "affordable settlement linked to new working practices" should be negotiated, it said.

The union said it was willing to talk, but pointed out that members had already agreed to ballot on national action for the first time since a no-strike deal was agreed 25 years ago.

The FBU believes the deal, agreed after the last national walkout in 1977, has left fully qualified firefighters out of pocket on a current salary of �21,531.

During the 1977-78 walkout, the army stepped in to answer emergency calls for nine weeks, in the famous "Green Goddesses".

Firefighters proved their willingness to strike in a local dispute in Merseyside last summer.