Members of the Fire Brigades Union have rejected a 16 per cent pay deal and warned more walkouts could be on the way.

Local strikes could be imminent after a substantial minority opposed a compromise proposal put forward by the national leadership to end the long-running fire dispute.

At a special conference in Brighton, the FBU's executive council saw its members back its proposal for a compromise solution that would mean increases in pay in return for local agreement on changes to working practices, by a two to one majority.

But local representatives speaking for more than 15,000 members voted against the national leadership's motion.