Firefighters have urged the government to make a "serious" offer to avoid strike action.

The leader of the Fire Brigade Union, Andy Gilchrist, told ePolitix.com that he was still prepared to find ways to avoid a walkout over pay following his members decision to ballot over strike action.

"We're prepared to talk to anybody that's actually got the ability to resolve this with us," he said.

"Government ministers could stop being unhelpful - as they've been so far - and push that process along."

He slammed the government for failing to step in and dismissed claims in the media that ministers were considering a "sweetener" deal spreading a settlement over a number of years.

"I've heard nothing. In order to stop the strike they'll have to stop telling the newspapers and tell me. We're not going to resolve this dispute through the front pages of the newspapers," he said.

"So far the government's behaviour has been extraordinarily unhelpful; actually stopping fire service employers making us a realistic offer."

He dismissed a pledge to hold an inquiry on pay and conditions as "utterly meaningless" and doubt Labour's commitment to workers whose union contributes to party funds.

"I question whether this government is pro-worker. I think its record is quite the opposite to be honest."

Gilchrist said a possible compromise could involve employers in local government agreeing a new pay rate which, together with the union, could be argued with central government.

But he warned his members would only accept a deal that was close to their demand of a minimum £30,000-a-year.

"It's going to take a significant offer to get us to start taking it seriously," he said.

He warned that firefighters would ultimately be ready to repeat their famous walkout of 1977.

"We're certainly prepared to do it. We are not going to be messing around. This is serious. We're intent on eradicating low pay in the fire service this year."