Firefighters and 999 call operators will go on strike on Sunday in protest against cuts and changes to working conditions.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union in Essex will strike from 6pm on Sunday to 9am on Monday.

The union is unhappy with a new shift system, which it believes is "unworkable".

Alan Chinn-Shaw, secretary of the FBU in Essex, said: “This situation isn’t going away, it’s only getting worse. We have seen members of our emergency control staff forced out of full time employment and even more are having to seriously consider it.

“The service and fire authority need to realise the decisions they are making are having an incredibly detrimental effect on the lives of their employees, the same people who provide a fantastic service to the public of Essex.

“Firefighters and control staff need their genuine concerns to be considered when any further changes are implemented in the service. Up until now managers haven’t exhibited any behaviour that suggests they will be”.

Essex County Fire and Rescue wrote to the union on Tuesday evening suggesting amending or cancelling the strike.

In reply the union have offered to meet Essex fire service negotiators today and over the weekend to attempt to avoid the strike.

The FBU claims Essex County Fire and Rescue plans to cut at least 179 firefighters and control staff resulting in a 20 per cent reduction in full time uniformed firefighters.

A fire service spokesman said: "Essex will once again have strong, well-rehearsed resilience arrangements in place to protect the county with working crews providing cover.

"In an emergency, members of the public should continue to dial 999 and we will respond."