Warning that "change is essential", John Prescott has set out a series of wide ranging reforms to the fire service.

Publishing the government's white paper on the future of the service, the deputy prime minister said it was time to "draw a line" under recent events.

Prescott indicated that many of the 4000 to 6000 employees who would retire over the next six years would not be replaced.

But FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist warned the government to "listen carefully" to fire service employees before making changes.

"Those who want to see genuine change in modernisation know that it cannot be based on the jaundiced mythology which grew during the pay dispute," he said.