A soldier providing emergency cover during the fire strike has been jailed for 21 days after making two hoax 999 calls to his unit.

The unnamed soldier was stationed in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, during the latest walkout by the Fire Brigades' Union.

His false calls sent colleagues to an address in the town just an hour before the end of the 48-hour strike last Monday morning.

Police traced the calls to the mobile phone of the soldier serving with the 40th Regiment of the Royal Artillery.

'Disciplinary inquiry'

Durham Police handed the matter over to the military and the soldier was put before his commanding officer.

An Army spokesman said: "An internal disciplinary inquiry has been held today and he has been dealt with.

"The soldier involved has received a military custodial sentence."

His sentence will be served in Colchester military jail.