The Fire Brigades Union has confirmed firefighters will go on strike across Hertfordshire on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as the row over pensions continues.

The first strike will run from 7pm until midnight on Christmas Eve, and the second from 6.30pm to 12.30am on New Year’s Eve.

Another strike is due to take place on Friday January 3 as part of ongoing industrial action by firefighters arising from a dispute over government changes to their pensions.

The announcement sets dates for the seventh, eighth and ninth firefighters’ strikes to have taken place since September over controversial changes to service pensions, which, the union says, could lead to firefighters in their late 50s seeing their pension reduced by almost half.

The latest walkouts took place last Friday and Saturday, with retained crews providing a reduced service across Hertfordshire.

For more information and safety advice visit: www.hertsdirect.org/firestrike.