Industrial action has left Mitcham’s fire engine out of action half a dozen times in less than a month.

The London Fire Brigade has played down the issue - but a Fire Brigades Union (FBU) spokesman at Mitcham said the impact of the action showed the service was “running on bare boards”.

This week a union source confirmed Mitcham’s fire engine has been unavailable during about six shifts in the last three weeks, because of a lack of senior staff.

At these times other engines from neighbouring stations have been forced to move from their usual bases to operate from the Lower Green West site.

The nationwide industrial action means FBU members are no longer "acting up" to temporarily fill senior positions, and refusing to take overtime.

An FBU spokesman based at the station said its members had withdrawn any “goodwill gestures” made toward service bosses. He said: “Staff feel like they have had enough.”

The dispute centres on planned changes to staffing levels and working conditions, which the union claims will affect public safety.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: “There are approximately 10 fire appliances currently unavailable each shift due to the industrial action, out of a front line fleet of 168.

“No station is without fire cover, keeping any disruption to a minimum.

"We plan our fire cover strategically to meet the needs of London as a whole. If for any reason, staff or appliances in a particular area are unavailable it is brigade practice to reallocate resources from other stations to make sure we have emergency cover across the capital.

“This action is disappointing. Even though it is not an all-out strike and won’t prevent us from providing a fire and rescue service, it is still unnecessary.”

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