FIREFIGHTERS will take industrial action next week, it has been announced.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says action will be taken following a "sustained period of aggression" by managers.

There will not be a full strike but it has been suggested that crews would stage a work to rule protest, doing only the tasks which fit their job description.

A union spokesman said: “We have made it clear to the brigade that the culture of railroading stuff through with no regard for the concerns of the workforce must end.

"It is that approach that has driven us to take industrial action, something we are always very reluctant to do."

But chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Brian Coleman said many of the disputed issues were “minor”.

He said: “Even though it is not an all-out strike and won’t prevent us from providing a fire and rescue service, we believe it is still unnecessary.

“We have held consistent and productive talks on the issues in dispute and if the FBU call off the action we are still committed to negotiations on all of them.”