PEOPLE are urged to take extra care during the upcoming firefighters' strike.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) has asked members of the public to be more careful during the strike, from 6pm on Friday (October 31) until 6pm on Tuesday (November 4).

This period of strike action will see HWFRS operating a reduced service.

HWFRS group commander Adrian Elliott said: “We are encouraging motorists and residents to take extra care during the strikes when there will be reduced fire cover.

"Not all of our firefighters are members of the Fire Brigades Union which means some stations will be working normally but people should be aware that it may take us a little longer to respond to calls in some instances.

“During the firefighter strikes, we want people to be clear about what to do in the event of a fire.

"The most important point they need to know is that they will still get an emergency response and they should not be tempted to tackle fires themselves."

Mr Elliott added: “General fire safety messages that we promote throughout the year become even more crucial at times of strike action.

"An early alert to a fire in your home is just as important for avoiding injury and damage to property, and we would also like to remind people to install a smoke alarm on every floor of their home and to test each alarm is working on a weekly basis.”

He also encouraged people to plan an escape route and make sure everyone in the house is aware of it.

Other fire safety messages to consider are:

• Close inside doors at night to help prevent a fire from spreading

• Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully

• Take extra care in the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended

• Do not overload electrical sockets and watch out for faulty and over-heating electrical equipment and wiring or cables

• Don’t tackle a fire yourself. Keep calm and act quickly, and get everyone out as soon as possible