ANGRY firefighters on the Isle of Wight claim lives could be put at risk because they say they have been locked-out of their fire station at Newport during the latest round of strikes.

The firefighters say that they are being prevented from getting to essential equipment during the increasingly bitter dispute between senior fire and rescue personnel and Island emergency crews.

Firefighters claim they are the only brigade in the whole of the country who are being prevented from reaching pumps and other vital equipment at the South Street fire station in Newport.

But their claims have been denied by the Island's chief fire officer, Richard Hards, who said any suggestion that the brigade was being unreasonable in refusing to allow striking firefighters access to Newport's fire station was a "gross distortion of the facts".

Fire Brigades' chairman on the Island, Mark Newland, said firefighters would "do what they needed to do" in order to gain access to equipment if an emergency arose.

He said: "The general public should know that we have been locked-out. It will have an effect on fire fighting as a whole. We can't get to the equipment as well as we would like to. This lock-out is not very conducive to consultation and future working relationships."

Chief fire officer on the Island, Richard Hards, said: "Officials of the Fire Brigades' Union from the Isle of Wight have informed me that striking firefighters have indicated to them that they would be prepared to attend fires and other incidents on the Island if they could be of assistance to persons at the scene.

"I offered on several occasions to enter into discussions with the Fire Brigades' Union to put in place a safe system of working to allow striking firefighters to attend incidents - but each time they have declined this offer.

"As far as I am aware, all other brigades have a safe system of working when striking firefighters have left the picket line to attend incidents.

"I believe firefighters on duty and, indeed, anyone attending a fire or other emergency to render assistance, deserve to have as much protection as possible.

"I am more than willing to discuss with the Fire Brigades' Union a safe system of working in the unlikely eventuality of striking firefighters attending an incident.

"It is common sense that any response to an incident should be properly co-ordinated. The local FBU, however, refuse to talk to us about the offer, let alone come to an agreement."

He added: "Any suggestion that the brigade is being unreasonable in refusing to allow striking firefighters access to Newport fire station's appliances - which could have serious consequences for the public - is a gross distortion of the facts which could cause unwarranted alarm among the Island public.

"The fact is that adequate cover is still available on the Island, provided by retained firefighters plus two Green Goddesses staffed by Naval personnel."