Some stations were only answering 999 calls

The move was in support of colleagues in Greater Manchester who have been suspended for refusing to use new major incident equipment.

Other areas affected include Essex, Leicestershire, Wiltshire and Norfolk.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said a ballot for official industrial action across the UK was increasingly likely.

Some Strathclyde and Tayside firefighters answered only 999 calls on Tuesday night and there were reports that firefighters at one Strathclyde station were involved in similar action on Wednesday.

Fire crews were expecting a pay rise in November after agreements made last June for a staged 16% increase, which settled the previous year's nationwide pay dispute.

Basically the firefighters have had enough Roddy Robertson FBU

But the FBU has withdrawn from the deal, saying the money has still not been delivered.

The union's Scottish chairman, Roddy Robertson, said there was growing anger amongst members and the situation was very fluid.

Mr Robertson said: "Employers have failed to honour the agreement that we signed back in 2003.

"We've been waiting since November for that back-dated money due to modernisation, which we have carried out to the letter.

"We still find ourselves in the position that our employers are refusing to pay that money and are adding in other parts into the negotiation and putting them as a fait-accompli to us.

If there's good will on both sides, I am sure we can get to an agreement where we can get the finances released Pat Watters Cosla

"Unless we accept these other additional parts then we won't get our money and basically the firefighters have had enough."

The latest dispute initially flared over the right to "stand down time" for firefighters on nightshift.

"Stand down time" is when firefighters on nightshift remain on call at stations, but do not carry out training or prevention work.

Employers have warned that the action was illegal and was putting lives at risk as they urged the FBU to resume negotiations.

Pat Watters, from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), told BBC Radio's Newsdrive programme: "We want to reach an agreement, the FBU want to reach agreement.