GWENT'S firefighters reacted angrily last night to the news that John Prescott was introducing emergency legislation to try to break the deadlock in the dispute.

In a statement to the House of Commons the deputy prime minister said: "This latest round of strikes confirms that the FBU is playing cat and mouse with the employers, the government, public safety and public money."

He proposes to reactivate provisions in the 1947 Fire Services Act, which were repealed in 1959. These will allow the government to specify pay, terms and conditions in the fire service.

Powers will also be used to direct the fire service on the use of its facilities and assets. In effect, the government would use the powers to impose a settlement on the striking firefighters.

Firefighters picketing the Ebbw Vale station gathered round the radio to hear the deputy prime minister's statement. Afterwards, station officer John Hale, 51, said: "It is a real concern that they would use these powers to impose a settlement rather than try and compromise.

"We live in a democracy and we have the right to negotiate for our pay and conditions. If they have their way and get what they call modernisation the finest fire service in the world will be much poorer.

"This dispute is no longer about pay, it is about saving the fire service. Firefighters, stations and services will be cut and the public will suffer."

Firefighter Nigel Williamson, from Caldicot, said Mr Prescott's measures were "dictatorial".

He said: "It strikes me as being rather ironic that he is using legislation that is 50 years old to modernise the fire service."

Rogiet's Mike Smith, FBU executive for Wales, said: "This intervention is really not helpful, it just complicates matters.

"Instead of persuading the employers to negotiate he is taking over and trying to impose a 4% increase in wages and changes that would damage the service.

"I just don't see how that solves the dispute. If he decides that the matter is over we still have a workforce whose concerns have been ignored. This is not a solution." The current strike will end at 9am tomorrow, but another 48-hour stoppage is due to start at 9am on Saturday. The executive meet in London on Monday to decide what action to take next.

PICTURED: White Watch firefighters prepare for a cold spell outside Ebbw Vale station last night.