NEWPORT bakers D Gibbon & Sons are showing their solidarity for the striking firefighters by delivering bread to them on picket lines.

The company's yard manager Ronald Eason said: "We supplied the striking firefighters of 1977 and we will continue to do so through this dispute."

Firefighters throughout South Wales and over the border in England have been grateful recipients of loaves of bread, rolls and cakes.

Stewart Jones, station officer at Malpas fire station, said: "It's really great to have their support and they've really lifted our spirits with their deliveries."

Meanwhile, at the Cefn Fforest picket line Sub-officer John Wedlock, 46, from Blackwood, said firefighters have received enormous support from locals.

He said: "They have been tremendous and we were very touched this week when a gentleman who is a pensioner came down to give us a quarter of his pension.

"People have been so kind donating money, bringing us food, making tea or just coming on the picket line with us for half an hour or so to give us some moral support."

The generous pensioner was Doug Russel, 67, from Cefn Fforest Avenue, who said: "I really don't want to make a fuss, but they came to my aid a few years ago.

"If they are still out there again next month, I'll be down to see them again."

* In the picture: Firefighters enjoy their buns.

Gwent's strikers back their union

GWENT'S striking firefighters are still solidly behind their union leadership - despite claims their union had led them into a trap that would lead to job losses.

They say the government wanted a strike in order to make drastic cuts to the fire service, introduce overtime and reduce fire cover.

Round the braziers outside fire stations in Newport everyone agreed that the government's modernisation plans did not add up to a better service.

Firefighters end their strike tomorrow at 9am - but are due to start a second eight-day strike next Wednesday at 9am. Talks were continuing between the employers and unions today.

At the Maindee picket Jon Roberts, 40, said: "The union have been at the forefront of introducing modern practices. We have pushed for the recruitment of more ethnic minorities and women, if the government cut 10,000 firefighters then they won't be recruiting anyone, let alone under-represented groups. Likewise Tony Blair said full-time firefighters won't work with retained firefighters, that just isn't true, we work with them now."

He added: "For years we have been asking the government to bring fast-track prosecutions against hoax callers and they never did anything, now they are rushing it in.

"We're all solidly behind the union leadership, they're up against a serious publicity machine and that's hard to fight."

On the picket line at Malpas, Station Officer Stuart Jones, 46, said: "In the last 20 years almost all modernisation has been employee-led. The idea that the FBU are against improving and modernising the service is rubbish. What we are against is cutting firefighters by 10,000 because it would endanger the public.

"In recent years we have voluntarily taken up water rescue duties using boats on the Usk and line rescue, where we abseil down buildings to save people. We would also be in the front-line of dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist attack and are receiving training for that. We do not get any additional money for that and we accept it is part of the job."

Firefighters on the Cefn Fforest picket line were also scathing.

Senior firefighter Steve Hopkins, 49, from Blackwood, who has 28 years of service, said: "The mood is militant and we have no intention of backing down.

"We are 100 per cent behind our union and we will see this fight through until the end.

"If I could ask Tony Blair one question, it would be, 'Justify what you are doing to us' "

Firefighter Dai Jones, added: "The government are hypocrites and John Prescott used to be one of the most militant trade unionists of them all."