RETAINED Haslingden firefighters battling to save their jobs put their under-threat station up for sale on eBay!

The crew carried out the stunt in a bid to raise the profile of an on-line petition supporting their campaign.

But, after just one day, they withdrew the station from the internet auction site after fearing that bosses would not be amused.

Crew manager Andy Coulton said: "It was not anything malicious it was just a joke.

"But we reconsidered because we thought the chief may not see the funny side and we did not want to cause offence.

"I have now removed it so no one can bid on it."

The 12 part-time firefighters at Haslingden Station are one of six East Lancashire retained crews earmarked for the axe under proposals revealed by fire chiefs last week.

Stations in Earby and Barnoldswick are also threatened with closure when a consultation period ends in December.

Bosses claimed that a study indicated the crews were longer needed because there was not enough work for them.

The Haslingden crew have launched the campaign to save their jobs and the station, saying the plan to cover the town from Rawtenstall fire station would put lives at risk.

And to drum up support they have been distributing petitions throughout shops in Haslingden.

Already more than 1,500 signatures have been collected from residents calling for the proposal to be scrapped.

Firefighters told people signing the petition about the station being up for sale on eBay.

A link from the auction site took viewers to an online version of the petition.

The idea was that people would remember to tell their friends about eBay, rather than the more obscure petition address, therefore boosting support for their campaign.

Mr Coulton said that he and his colleagues had also met MPs Greg Pope and Janet Anderson, whose constituencies both cover Haslingden.

But he added: "The meeting with Greg Pope was cut short because we were called out to a barn fire in Bacup and did not get back until 9pm.

"But they have said they will work together to try and help us.

"We have been overwhelmed by the response from the public. To get 1,500 signatures so quickly is fantastic."

Anyone wishing to sign the online petition should go to www.petitiononline.com/hassy/petition.html.

Nobody from Lancashire Fire and Rescue was available to comment.