MORE people will die in Lancashire fires because of a 25 per cent cutback to the budget by the Government, according to the Fire Brigades’ Union.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue is looking to cut up to £9million from its budget of £61.5million as part of the spending review.

Around half the service’s annual budget comes from a central Government grant, with the rest from council tax precepts, meaning an over-all budget cut of 13 per cent.

Fire chiefs are currently assessing where to make savings, and no details have yet been decided on where the axe will fall.

Yesterday, 25 Lancashire firefighters joined colleagues from across the country in marching on Westminster to protest about the cuts, which they say will hit frontline services.

Steve Harman, the county branch chairman of the Fire Brigades’ Union, said: “This is very, very bad news.

“We are already stretched to the limit.

“All the paperclips have gone, there is nothing else to go apart from frontline services.

“I do not believe you can save up to £9million without drastically affecting services to the public.

“This level of cuts will put the public or firefighters’ lives at risk, or both.

“It will lengthen the time it takes to get to fires.”

The union also highlights anger over a two-year pay freeze and an increase in VAT to be introduced in the New Year, increasing running costs.

John Taylor, spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue, said: “We cannot estimate what impact [the cut] is going to have.

“But we want to reassure the public that the provision of services will continue at the maximum possible.”