The leader of the Fire Brigades Union says employers have only "one last shot" to bring an end to the dispute before strike action begins on Wednesday.

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the union, said local authority employers were "drinking in the last chance saloon" as the two prepared for a crunch meeting.

Details of an independent review into the fire service are due to be presented to the union at the meeting on Tuesday.

Andy Gilchrist: Members fed up being heroes one day villains the next

Meanwhile in a separate dispute, seven of the country's airports could be closed on Monday due to action expected by airport staff over pay.

In the separate dispute, union leaders representing fire-fighters, security guards and other employees at seven affected airports are due to call for stoppages on Monday in a row over pay.

The airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh - could have to close if the strikes go ahead, although new negotiations are also likely.

Firefighters' employers hope that the presentation of their pay review on Tuesday will help them draw up a new pay offer after a previous suggestion of 4% was rejected.

Informal negotiations

The offer fell far short of the Fire Brigade Union's (FBU) call for a 40% increase to �30,000 for fully-qualified firefighters.

Informal negotiations could be held between the FBU and its employers on Monday ahead of the official resumption of talks between the two on Tuesday.

Strike dates

13-14 November 22-30 November 4-12 December 16-24 December All start and end at 0900 GMT

The independent review into the fire service has been chaired by Sir George Bain.

The FBU has refused to take part in the review - saying it is not going to help in determining a new rate of pay.

Talks 'stalled'

But the employers have been waiting for Sir George to bring forward some of his findings to help to achieve a peace deal.

Earlier talks aimed at averting the first firefighters' strike for 25 years "stalled", according to union leaders, at the end of the fourth day of discussions last week.

Mr Gilchrist said then a 48-hour strike due to start at 1800 GMT next Wednesday would go ahead unless a proposal worth putting to his members was made.

Many firefighters are said to be frustrated by the lack of progress in the talks, which are now in their fourth round.

The meetings follow a decision by the FBU to cancel an eight-day walk-out, which would have started last Wednesday.

If no agreement is reached the action beginning on 13 November will be followed by a series of eight-day strikes, between the end of November and Christmas.

Emergency cover during the strikes would be provided by the military, equipped with obsolete Green Goddess fire tenders.