COUNTY fire chiefs have agreed to hold talks on government plans to reduce the numbers of control room staff.

The move comes after they were criticised by their own control room personnel for not sticking up for them.

Many staff will face the sack if Westminster's proposals are put into action.

The Fire Brigades Union estimates that around 900 of the current 1,500 control room staff across the country would be made redundant.

The cuts would result from replacing each county's control room with a handful of high-tech regional call centres.

Westminster believes that it will make the service more efficient, but union leaders disagree, arguing that emergency calls should be handled by staff who know the area.

Union activists made their case before members of the Hampshire Fire Authority on Wednesday.

Julie Barton, who works in the Eastleigh control room, criticised them for not doing enough to protect their jobs. "There is a feeling that you have sold us down the river."

She added that, having spoken to many members of the public, most were opposed to regional call centres.

"They could see the plans were illogical and a total waste of their money. They were also confused over why something that works should be changed."

Her colleague in the Eastleigh control room, Sharon Eames, said they were committed to providing the best possible service.

"We know that this cannot be achieved through 900 job cuts."

She added that staff morale was suffering, and urged members of the Fire Authority to take a stand on their behalf.

Authority chairman, Michael Cartwright, said they had already agreed to oppose regional call centres if the "business case" could not be made.

He then warned that if Hampshire withdrew from the regional management board, which is debating the changes, then Westminster would probably force them through anyway.

Vice chairman, Phil Heath, said they should listen to the union's concerns and discuss them further.

Another member, Richard Williams, added that the authority must decide on its stance and take action. "What's clearly needed is leadership."

Members agreed to discuss the plans in greater detail at their next quarterly meeting in September.