FIREFIGHTERS are urging councillors to push for a judicial review which could save an engine from being axed from their station.

The part-time retained pump at Great Harwood is set to be lost as a result of a service review carried out by fire bosses.

Fellow firefighters in Barnoldswick, where a retained pump is also set to be removed, have been supported by Pendle Council in their fight to keep their level of service.

Executive members of the council voted to investigate mounting a judicial review on the grounds that a petition signed by 6,000 residents had been ignored by officials.

A similar move is being made to save the other crew earmarked for the axe, in Carnforth near Lancaster.

The cuts will mean 36 East Lancashire firemen will lose their jobs or have a cut in their hours.

Jack Anderson, watch manager of Great Harwood's retained crew, who have been supported by a 3,000-name petition, said: "We are pleased Pendle Council has decided to take action. I will be talking to the watch manager at Barnoldswick to find out how they are dealing with the situation and will be asking our local and county councillors to support a similar move from Hyndburn Council."

He added: "If anything can be done to help our situation we need to try it. The two pumps in Great Harwood do not cover just the immediate vicinity but also into Whalley, Billington, Langho, Brockhall village and parts of Wilpshire. A lot of people will be affected if this engine goes."

Mr Anderson continued: "We don't feel the people affected by these cuts have been consulted properly. The meeting discussing the Great Harwood engine was held in Accrington - it should have been on our patch."

Pendle Council will be seeking support from Hyndburn over their proposed investigation.

Leader of Hyndburn Council, Coun Peter Britcliffe said the council would consider taking similar action. He added: "We will discuss these matters with Pendle as I cannot see any way that cutting engines will not lead to a loss of overall service levels."

Chief fire officer for Lancashire, Peter Holland told the Lancashire Telegraph on Tuesday he would not have supported any cuts that would endanger lives but said that there was not enough work for the crews.