DORSET is today preparing emergency plans for fire cover after firefighters voted overwhelmingly in favour of a series of national strikes.

Two 48-hour stoppages will be held on October 29 and November 2 and there could be four more eight-day strikes before Christmas.

Weymouth was immediately confirmed as one of three county bases from which Army personnel will operate ageing Green Goddess fire engines.

Senior fire service staff called on the public to keep 999 emergency calls to a minimum during strike periods.

County, borough and district councils have met to thrash out an emergency fire cover strategy and the Dorset Fire Authority will meet in Dorchester on Tuesday to discuss the strike threat.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council chief executive Tom Grainger said: "Our representative on the county emergency planning team has been helping plan what will be done when Green Goddesses come in.

"The main issue is that the army will be used to fight fires across Dorset including Weymouth and Portland using the old Green Goddess fire engines.

"Importantly one of the centres from which the Green Goddesses will operate is going to be Weymouth with two others in the east of the county.

"This will mean that coverage in Weymouth and Portland is likely to be at a much higher level than in the more rural parts of the county, but all cover will be lower than that provided through the professional fire service.

"The reality of the situation is that what resources will be available will have to be concentrated on the more serious incidents and not on minor calls such as clearing up after minor road accidents."

Dorset's deputy Chief Fire Officer Roger Greet said the three Green Goddess centres would be in Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth.

He added: "Fire cover will obviously be less and we are seeking co-operation from the public to try to reduce the number of 999 calls made to the Fire Service.

"We will also be looking to provide people with advice on fire safety."

Phil Hatchard, secretary of Fire Brigades Union in Dorset said: "The results of the ballot shows the strength of feeling throughout the country as well as in Dorset.

"It is a sad day that we have to do this, but we feel we have had no choice and we hope it will focus the Government's attention on giving us a better deal.

"As firefighters, we are concerned about the safety of the public so we have been out and about in Dorset to give advice to people.

"We hope that by educating people about fire prevention there will be no need to call out the service during strike periods."