HAMPSHIRE residents are being urged to attend organised firework displays this weekend, as firefighters begin four days of continuous strike action.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will go out at 6pm tomorrow and return to duty at 6pm on Tuesday, November 4 – the longest period of action yet in the ongoing pension dispute with the Government.

With the action coinciding with Hallowe’en and bonfire night celebrations, the public are being advised to attend organised events to reduce the chances of unwanted emergencies and allow the fire service to focus its reduced resources.

Assistant chief officer Neil Odin, head of community safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Leave the fireworks and the bonfires to the experts this weekend and attend one of the many fantastic displays being organised around Hampshire.

“While we will still be responding to 999 calls, the strike action is inevitably going to impact on our response times, so reducing the risk of accidents will help us to prioritise the resources we have.

“We want people to enjoy all the spectacular sights and sounds of this time of year, but leave the safety arrangements to the event organisers while you worry about tucking into a hot dog.”

Hampshire's retained firefighters will once again step up to help provide emergency cover, while agreements also remain in place with the FBU for striking firefighters to return to duty should a major emergency occur.