There are about 400 MCA search and rescue teams covering the UK

They include Broadhaven and Penrhyn in Pembrokeshire, who will be joined at midnight by St David's and Fishguard.

The action comes after a volunteer, who lost his job after damaging his knee in a rescue, claims he did not receive adequate compensation.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said contingencies were in place.

It stressed that other emergency services, including the RNLI, were still operating, and lives would not be put at risk.

A spokesperson for the MCA described the decision by about 10 of the UK's 400 part-time search and rescue teams not to respond to emergency calls as "disappointing".

Should services be withdrawn, contingencies are in place to ensure that the preservation and saving of life is not compromised Fred Caygill, MCA

The row centres on Brian MacFarlane, who was injured while rescuing an animal from a cliff face four years ago.

The 38-year-old father subsequently lost his main job as a residential social worker, and claims he has not been given fair compensation.

His local crew at Fishguard threatened to withdraw their cover until the matter was resolved, and have since then been gathering support from across the UK.

They say insurance cover for coastguards is less than they believed, and more teams have been prompted to consider whether they are willing to risk their livelihoods by responding to emergencies.

Brian MacFarlane was injured rescuing an animal four years ago

If the issues are not resolved at a meeting with the MCA on Thursday, they say more teams are likely to stop their emergency response.

Fishguard station officer John Davies said: "We are ordinary people who do an extraordinary thing. We are on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to risk our lives to rescue people.

"But we are not willing to risk our livelihoods and the welfare of our families.

"It is with great regret and reluctance that we have taken these steps.

"We just want to get back to focusing on what we do best, which is saving lives of people at risk on the coast," he added.

Contingencies

But the MCA said it felt the action was premature as planned discussions had not yet taken place.

Fred Caygill from the MCA said: "Should services be withdrawn, contingencies are in place to ensure that the preservation and saving of life is not compromised."

Mr Caygill said the civil service injuries benefits scheme (which covers the coastguards) was a national scheme which covered all civil servants.

"It is therefore not within the MCA's gift to make its own changes to the scheme, although the MCA will be able to represent the view of volunteer coastguards to central government," he added.