FIREFIGHTERS have decided to accept a staged pay rise following their latest dispute with employers.

But only 56 per cent of the 52,000 Fire Brigade Union members bothered to vote in the postal ballot.

Dave Carruthers, union representative at Warrington Fire Station, said: "The letter was sent to people's houses and all they had to do was tick a box.

"It was a simple way of doing it but half the country haven't even bothered to vote, which I think says a lot.

"Nobody wants to have to strike again."

Union members said fire staff should have got a seven per cent increase this month - but only got 3.5 per cent, with the rest coming later.

But employers argued that the rise was always subject to modernisation changes taking place.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said that the firefighters have made a 'mature and difficult' decision. He said: "The employers now need to rethink how they are going to contribute to rebuilding the relationship with their staff which they have left in tatters.

"And they need to start by recommitting themselves to implementing this agreement in full."

Cheshire's chief fire officer Steve McGuirk said the vote was a 'victory for common sense'.