An estimated 2,000 people have been protesting about pay levels in the fire service in south west Wales.

Firefighters from across Wales and their families were joined by colleagues from across the UK for the Swansea rally.

Neath MP Peter Hain met firefighters

They are threatening to call only the second national strike in the service's history if demands for a 40% pay increase are not met.

The Goverment is already preparing emergency measures if the union opts for industrial action

The demonstration is seeking to change the top pay level of �21,500 to �30,000.

Industrial action could take place in October if the national firefighters' pay body chooses to ignore the claim.

A series of meetings and demonstrations have been going on across the UK all week, and another large rally is taking place in Glasgow on Saturday.

Labour MP Martin Caton and AM Anne Jones were among the speakers in support of a fair wage for Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control Operators.

Following a meeting with fire staff on Friday, Neath MP Peter Hain talked of the need to avoid industrial action if possible.

"We don't want to see a strike - they don't want to see it, everybody knows what the consequences would be if there were one," he said.

The union is seeking to change the way pay rises are awarded.

The present system of awarding pay rises was put in place after the last national strike in the 70s but the union is seeking to change it, claiming its members are losing out.

Fire Brigades Union spokesman Lawrence Larmond said: "We've only had one strike in the fire service, back in 1977.

Fire Brigades Union officer Lawrence Larmond

"Twenty-five years later, we're back in that position where firefighters working 42 hours a week, serving their communities, are having to claim benefits."

One of the firefighters at Neath station, Dane Clarke, 42, has been in the job for over 20 years but cannot get a pay rise under the present system.

"Every firefighter doesn't want to go on strike because the implications can be not very good at all, but if we do ballot for industrial action, I will go on strike," he said.

Members of the public have offered their support to the firefighters despite concerns about safety.

On 2 September, the national council responsible for deciding pay levels in the fire service is scheduled to meet.

The fire union will hold its conference 10 days later to decide what action to take.

Any industrial action is likely to be held in October.

Forces on standby

Military personnel from the Army, Navy and RAF are to be trained to fight fires in the event of a national strike.

During the 1977 strike, army 'Green Goddesses' were used to answer emergency calls for nine weeks.

The march began at Swansea's County Hall at 1200 BST and was scheduled to end in Singleton Park.

Police had warned of major traffic disruption along the city's Mumbles road.