Colleagues of a firefighter who died in a fire at a disused hosiery factory joined thousands of other striking colleagues by walking out of their station at 1800 BST on Wednesday.

Firefighters at Eastern Fire Station on Hastings Road, Leicester, paid tribute to Bob Miller, who was killed on October 31.

The 44-year-old father-of-two, with 26 years' experience in the service, died from his injuries after falling through a floor of the derelict factory when tackling the fire.

About 40 firefighters from the station, still coming to terms with the death of their fallen colleague, walked out in support of the strike.

I am sure he would have been out with us at the picket line tonight

Tim Griffin, FBU Branch chairman

The firefighters met with supportive hoots from the horns of passing cars as they picketed their station.

Tim Griffin, chairman of the station's FBU branch, said: "Bob's death has shocked us and it was a tragic event and has put the strikes into perspective.

"We are still very upset over Bob's death and are saddened that we have had to take this action. "I am sure he would have been out with us at the picket line tonight if it had not have been for the tragic circumstances.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this terrible time."

His death was the first in the fire service since 1999 and the first at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service since a fire at Oadby, south-west of Leicester, in 1971.

Mr Miller, who lived locally with his wife Jane and two sons aged 14 and 17, was the son of a former station officer who spent 30 years in the service.