THE Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging members of the public to take care over this long weekend as there are several strikes planned as part of industrial action.

The strikes took effect from yesterday (Friday, May 2) but are also happening today Saturday, May 3 from 2pm to 2am, and tomorrow Sunday, May 4 from 10am to 3pm.

During the strike the service will be operating a reduced service, and people are encouraged to plan an escape route in case of emergencies, and ensure that everyone in their household is aware of it.

Adrian Elliott, group commander of HWFRS, said: “We are encouraging motorists and residents to take extra care during the strikes when there will be reduced fire cover.

"Not all of our firefighters are members of the Fire Brigades Union which means some stations will be working normally but people should be aware that it may take us a little longer to respond to calls in some instances.

“During the firefighter strikes, we want people to be clear about what to do in the event of a fire. The most important point they need to know is that they will still get an emergency response and they should not be tempted to tackle fires themselves.

“General fire safety messages that we promote throughout the year become even more crucial at times of strike action. An early alert to a fire in your home is just as important for avoiding injury and damage to property, and we would also like to remind people to install a smoke alarm on every floor of their home and to test each alarm is working on a weekly basis.”