Firefighters went out on strike last night in a row with the Government over pensions.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out from 6.30pm to 11pm.

A further strike is planned for Monday for two hours from 6am.

Daryl Schofield, the union’s fire service headquarters representative, and Scott Elvidge, Huddersfield fire station union branch leader, said the decision to strike is never an easy one.

Mr Schofield said: “The Government is wanting to change the pension scheme and it’s going to make it unaffordable for many.

“The biggest fear is that the amount a firefighter is being asked to pay is going up to 14.2%.

“From next April my own pension contribution will be more than what I pay in income tax, it’s on virtual parity now and it’s going up 1.2%.

“We’re looking at paying £4,500 a year in pension, for many people that is not affordable.”

He said the Government’s claims that a firefighter will get £19,000 a year pension is misleading.

“You’ve got to have done 40 years to get anywhere near that and with the fitness tests it’s unlikely many will get to 40 years,” he said.

“I worry that come 2015 when the pension scheme comes in many will opt out and the scheme will collapse because not enough people are paying into it.”

Firefighters were thankful for the public’s support last night. And, as they manned the ring road picket line, drivers were beeping their horns in support.

Members of the Huddersfield TUC also joined the picket line.

Mr Schofield said: “I can understand that some people think because they have to pay a lot or they don’t have a pension we should put up with it.

“But we have to fight for our rights and get a deal that is affordable.”

Mr Elvidge added: “The Government are not speaking to us. They could have resolved this by now, this is mainly affecting 8,000 members.

“It’s an extremely difficult decision to walk out, we’ve all come into this job to keep the public safe, we’re community minded people but my pension will soon be the same as my mortgage each month.”

They remain doubtful of a resolution before Monday’s strike but said negotiations will continue between national union leaders and the Government.

Simon Pilling, chief fire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are conscious that these two periods of strike action take place during the busy firework, bonfire and Diwali period.

“We have contingency plans which will provide an effective, but reduced, service throughout West Yorkshire.”

The union held a four-hour stoppage last month but called off another strike after it appeared a deal was in sight.

But officials said the Government and fire employers failed to offer any guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.

In the first two hours of the strike, crews of managers and non-union members were called to 11 incidents across West Yorkshire – none in Kirklees and two in Calderdale.

Dave Walton, Assistant Chief Officer said they had 28 engines in operation as opposed to 54 generally.