PRESSURE from residents could still save East Lancashire fire engines on a hit list of priority stations chosen to have pumps axed under service reviews.

Lancashire's chief fire officer Peter Holland has suggested the county should only lose three engines in the first cull - intended to lead to a better level of service provision.

Proposals submitted to the Combined Fire Authority by Mr Holland suggested a list of eight engines that could be disposed of from stations across Lancashire. These include engines at Colne, Barnoldswick, Great Harwood, Haslingden and Hyndburn.

Retained pumps at Earby and Padiham have been given a reprieve and should stay in action, if plans are accepted by the CFA.

But Mr Holland has pointed out that Lancashire can initially only afford to lose three engines and the impact of this will be monitored before any more cuts are made.

A list of the stations has then been put into rank order, showing where the minimum impact of loss would be felt.

The Great Harwood and Barnoldswick pumps are ranked second and third, making them almost certain to be withdrawn.

Haslingden, Hyndburn and Colne then take the next three slots, meaning they should be safe for the next year.

In his briefing on the proposals Mr Holland said: "It is important to confirm that we have recommended to the Combined Fire Authority that they remove no more than three engines, should they choose to approve any of the options.

"This will allow us to then evaluate the impact of these changes over the next 12 months."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said he had received reassurances from Mr Holland that the three stations that remain under threat will not be automatically the first ones to be consider for removal in the next review.

He said: "These stations should not feel they have the fireman's axe hanging over their heads for the next year. Everything will start again from scratch.

"I am disappointed about Great Harwood but we have saved Haslingden and Hyndburn and residents must still keep on lobbying their county councillors to let their feelings be known."

Great Harwood watch manager Jack Anderson disputed the way the ranking had been done.

He said: "Our second pump goes out more often than the one at Haslingden and Accrington's Hyndburn station has three pumps, while we have just two. They can't warrant keeping three when they are halving our provision here."