The government has indicated that it is prepared to reach an interim pay deal with Britain's firemen in order to avoid a damaging national strike.

The result of the firefighters' ballot on strike action is expected on October 18 and the government wants the independent review into service pay to report by November 7, when the annual pay rise would normally be implemented.

Nick Raynsford, the minister responsible for fire services, said there could be an earlier interim announcement pending completion of the review.

According to the Times, the government is "desperate" to avoid a strike because it would necessitate transferring 15,000 troops to man 900 Green Goddesses, at a time when the army may be involved in a conflict with Iraq.