Union leaders are recommending firefighters strike for the first time in 25 years, after last-ditch pay talks broke down on Monday.

The Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) will now recall its national conference later this month to vote on industrial action.

It also claimed up to 30 brigades had already imposed "work to rule" conditions, under which they only attend 999 calls.

The threat of a walkout came after talks between union leaders and local authority employers lasted less than 90 minutes, despite the presence of thousands of banner-waving firefighters on the streets outside.

Firefighter pay

Pre-qualifying: �16,941 to �19,776 Fully qualified: �21,531 rising to �22,491 after 15 years Leading firefighter: �23,055 rising to �24,006 Sub-officer: �23,643 rising to �25,503 Station officer: �27,426 rising to �29,577 Source: FBU

Employers formally offered a 4% pay rise but the union said this was nowhere near its demands for a near 40% increase.

The employers said they were "extremely disappointed" no agreement had been made but simply could not afford the union's "unrealistic" demands.

Andy Gilchrist, the FBU's general secretary, told the crowd how negotiations had broken down.

He said: "Be very clear - the executive council are recommending national strike action. We're well up to the task. It's a difficult job. Let's get it done."

He added that strike action appeared inevitable.

'Last chance'

"Today was the employers' last chance," he said.

"It is my view they have already wasted valuable time and now have turned down our alternative approach towards pay."

The union - claiming public support - wants the pay of a qualified firefighter to rise from �21,500 a year to �30,000, plus a new formula.

Syd Hall, 51, a leading Oxford firefighter, said: "I'm here to support our claim for a decent living wage.

Green goddesses could return to the streets

"The old pay offer has served its purpose. It's outdated and we've been falling behind other workers for years.

"I was in the strike in '77 and if I have to do it again then I will.

"I take home just over �1,400 a month when I've been a firefighter for 29 years."

A strike would endanger lives and property, according to the employers.

Charles Nolda - executive director of the Local Government Association (LGA), which employs firefighters - said industrial action would see 900 Army 'Green Goddess' fire engines mobilised across the UK.

But he said the cover would be less efficient than that provided by the fire authorities' 3,000 fire engines.

Work to rule

The LGA said a substantial pay rise would have to be considered by an independent inquiry, underwritten by the government.

But the FBU thinks the current pay formula, worked out after the last national strike in 1977, is outdated.

Since the breakdown of talks the FBU claims brigades across the UK have already imposed ''unofficial" action.

A pay deal was last agreed 25 years ago

Union officials said forces in the South West, Essex, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northants, Norfolk, Suffolk and Bedfordshire were only answering 999 calls, as a sign of protest.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Service said firefighters were not dealing with administrative tasks and were "filtering" non-emergency calls.

"A work to rule by firefighters in no way jeopardises public safety," he added.

The Greater Manchester service operated an unofficial "work to rule" from 9am on Monday, but the action finished at 6pm and there were no immediate plans to restart, a spokesman said.

The action is also being opposed by the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU), who represent thousands of part-time professional firefighters.

Retained firefighters serve more rural areas which do not have their own full-time manned station.

Each is paid a flat fee of around �2,000 a year and between �14-20 per incident they attend.

A spokesman for the RFU said: "[RFU] members follow their own written constitution which includes a no-strike policy.

"They simply do not recognise strike action and will be serving their communities as normal to ensure where possible there is no loss of life during the expected industrial action."

The union agrees a pay review is needed but does not believe strike action is the way to resolve the dispute.