General secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Andy Gilchrist, was met with a warm welcome at the TUC conference, when he repeated the call for a 40 per cent pay increase for firefighters.

"All public sector workers are the same: selfless, compassionate, committed to people, and perhaps most important, dedicated to serve," he said.

Union members are expected to vote in favour of strike action on Thursday.

John Prescott's government department blocked a pay offer of £3,500 a year - an increase of 16 per cent - proposed by local authority leaders, reports today's Guardian.