A GWENT soldier claims striking firefighters are stopping him training for a possible attack in the Gulf.

The 19-year-old Royal Welch Fusilier from Cwmbran spoke to the Argus while on leave after standing in for firefighters in Hounslow, London.

The soldier, who did not want to be named, said the industrial dispute could leave him and his fellow soldiers unprepared to face Iraqi troops in the event of a war. But a leading Gwent FBU official has hit back, saying: "Soldiers are paid to kill people while firefighters are paid to save them."

The soldier said: "You hear all this stuff about firefighters putting their lives on the line but what about soldiers? We may be asked to fight in the Gulf and face bullets, shells and God knows what else, but we don't complain, it's part of the job.

"At the moment I earn £11,000 a year, a lot less than firefighters who still want £30,000. I know they do a good job but we didn't do much last week except sit around.

"We are meant to be learning how to use mechanised vehicles that might be used in the Gulf but so far we haven't even been in one because we have been too busy covering for the firefighters. I just get sick of hearing about what a hard time they have, they should try standing in for us."

But Rogiet's Mike Smith, executive member of the union and deputy leader of Monmouthshire county council, said: "Society reward those who try to save lives rather than those who aim to destroy them, that's what this soldier is trained for."

Maindee firefighter and Gwent FBU official Bob Allen said: "We don't have any argument with the armed forces people, I think they've done a really good job so far.

"But when soldiers say they get less you have to remember that they get board, lodging and travel all paid for. When they cover for firefighters they don't do the same job as us. Firefighters don't just tackle fires they are in involved in everything from fire prevention to training for a chemical attack."