Firefighters have said they will not stand in the way of the military using modern fire engines locked up in the fire stations being picketed.

Dick Pearson, Wales representative of the Fire Brigades Union, said on Friday his members would allow RAF and army crews access to the standard red appliances if the UK Government decided they should be used.

Brigadier Aitken: Will not order his troops across picket lines

The ageing Green Goddesses which have been used since the 48-hour strike began on Wednesday evening have been criticised for being too slow and lacking in up-to-date accessories.

Whitehall ministers had said they might order troops to cross picket lines to use fire service equiment if the strikers carried out their planned eight-day stoppage next Friday.

However the man in charge of the army in Wales has insisted he will not allow them to cross picket lines.

"I'm not prepared to send my men across a picket line," Brigadier Robert Aitken said.

"If anyone is going to give me better kit than I have got at the moment, through the normal democratic process, then I will have it.

"But I'm not going to cross picket lines."

Union leaders are hopeful of avoiding further industrial action.

Speaking at a rally in Newport, south Wales, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Andy Gilchrist said officials were still working to avoid more disruption.

"We are going to be engaged in doing everything humanly possible to avoid taking strike action again next Friday," he said.

"We are still determined to do everything in our power to reach a negotiated settlement on pay which is satisfactory to the members of the union."

Mr Gilchrist had earlier praised firefighters in Newtown, Powys, who crossed the picket line to help with an incident on Wednesday evening in which a 72-year-old woman died.

Smoke inhalation

Similarly, striking crews in Caernarfon, north Wales, left their picket line at the town's fire station to help police and local people to search the River Seiont after reports that a child had fallen in.

Two police officers had to be treated in hospital for minor smoke inhalation after a fire in Hay-on-Wye.

The fire, at Penywyrlodd Farm at Llanigon, was put out by both military and regular fire brigades from Hay, Talgarth and Eardisley.

A three-storey flat in Old Colwyn was evacuated on Friday morning after a fire broke out on the ground floor.

A Green Goddess and a rescue equipment support team vehicle from Colwyn Bay went to the scene after a call around 0515 BST.

Military and police crews have dealt with a total of 96 call-outs across Wales since the start of the dispute, 82 of which were fire incidents.

Mid and West Wales 24-hour helpline - 01267 223044/229286.

South Wales Fire Service home safety helpline - 0800 328 1830.

North Wales Community Fire Safety Team - 01745 343431.