By Steve Hawkes BBC News Online in central London

Rob Senior will mow your lawn, re-plaster your living room or even drive you around London in a limousine - and if your house catches fire, he and his mates will come round and put it out.

He has been a firefighter for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for two and half years and takes home just �255 a week.

So he sometimes works 60 hours without stopping on various jobs just to make ends meet.

Rob Senior takes home just �255 a week

"I have to do odds and sods," he told BBC News Online.

"I do quite a lot of driving, gardening, building work - whatever I can get."

And Rob is not the only one moonlighting at the Hemel Hempstead fire station where he works.

"The chap who I drive limos for has five or six of us.

"We are all on different watches so it works quite well.

"But you get into a situation where you are working night and day throughout the week.

"You can go 60 hours without stopping.

You get into a situation where you are working night and day throughout the week

Firefighter Rob Senior

"And that takes it out of you."

Rob's "odds and sods" top up his salary by �350 a month.

The 22-year-old still lives at home with his parents.

"I am attempting to save - but every month the property market gets further out of reach."

Annie Lewis bought her "tiny two-bedroom house" in Oxfordshire five years ago.

The 42-year-old senior fire control operator, who earns less than �23,500 a year, paid �72,000.

"Now they are going for �127,000," she told BBC News Online.

Annie Lewis earns less than �23,500 a year

And without the �522 annual allowance paid to firefighters in London, that is simply out of her range.

Things were bad enough five years ago.

"I moved in straight after my divorce, and things were very tight.

"It is slightly better now - with interest rates falling - but still quite difficult."

Annie has not been on holiday for four years.

"You have to watch the pennies," she explained.

I just want a decent salary that reflects my commitment to my community

Senior fire control operator Annie Lewis

"I do not have any expensive hobbies, I do not smoke and I do not drink much."

And after 20 years with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Annie could do with a proper break.

"I have worked 10 out of the past 11 Christmases."

"And there is no allowance built into the salary for that."

Macho image

The Local Government Association, which employs firefighters, wants a pay deal linked to a commitment to modernise the service.

Apart from changing the rigid shift patterns, they want more women to join.

Annie agrees.

"There are a lot of women who could do a good job.

"And it would help counter the stereotype of the macho fireman.

"I am not against modernisation - but it should not be dependent on us accepting an unfair pay deal.

"I just want a decent salary that reflects my commitment to my community and the job I do."

Long struggle

The Fire Brigades Union is seeking a rise of almost 40%.

And although Annie remains optimistic, she knows there is a long struggle ahead.

"There is a good chance of winning - but it will not be easy."

And in the meantime, if you need any emergency odd jobs done just phone 999 and ask for a firefighter.