Soldiers in north-east England are to be allowed to use red fire engines in the event of further strikes by firefighters.

Tyne and Wear and Durham fire authorities are to release six reserve appliances - it is thought Northumberland will release a further three.

Crucial talks are ongoing in an effort to avert a second, eight-day strike due to start on 22 November.

Troops will now be trained on the engines, which are older than appliances in everyday use, but are faster and have more equipment that 50-year-old Green Goddesses.

'Wrong hands'

Keith Walters, chairman of the Tyne & Wear branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: "We have no intention whatsoever of trying to stop Army personnel using these appliances.

"Our sympathy is with the soldiers.

"But we would urge them to use caution and not drive them too fast because in the wrong hands they can be very dangerous.

"They are very different to Green Goddesses."

Tyne and Wear has 16 Green Goddesses and eight breathing apparatus emergency tenders which are used by the military firefighters.

Durham has 10 Green Goddesses and four emergency tenders.

The county's deputy chief fire officer Paul Henderson said he was happy more modern appliances were being made available.