Firefighters from Scotland have joined hundreds of colleagues from across the UK in a demonstration over pay.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said firefighters taking part in the march and rally in Belfast would consider strike action as a last resort if appeals for a new pay deal are not heeded.

Following the demonstration, the UK Government said it was considering a request from councils for an "independent review" of pay and conditions.

John McDonald: "We're getting pushed"

Firefighters have staged a series of demonstrations in their UK-wide call to bring the basic wage for a firefighter with four years' training up to �30,000 from about �21,500 - a rise of nearly 40%.

Scottish union official John McDonald said: "We want the government to listen to us, because the last thing we want to do is take strike action.

"We're getting pushed towards that and we will take strike action if we're forced into it but we want to avoid confrontation and we ask the employers to listen to us."

FBU President Mick Harper told the assembled firefighters: "We have made a reasonable request for a reasonable reward, our claim is modest."

He said the pay formula devised after the only national firefighters strike in 1977 had initially served members well but was now out of date.

Lone piper

His members were now earning �100 a week less than average male earnings.

The government said: "The office of the deputy prime minister is considering a request from the employers' organisation to set up an independent review of the fire service looking at both modernisation and pay."

Firefighters have already staged rallies in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff.

The firefighters paraded through the centre of Belfast behind a lone piper and fire engine, blowing whistles, hooting horns and waving banners.

Another London rally is due to be held on 2 September, when the union and pay body will meet for talks.