WEST Yorkshire fire crews are to stage a rally against proposed cuts to the service.

The protest will be held on Saturday in Leeds City Centre.

Under the proposals, Dewsbury and Batley fire stations will close to be replaced with one at Batley Carr, while Brighouse and Elland fire stations will be amalgamated into one station in Rastrick.

Across the region, if approved by the fire authority, there will be 19 less fire appliances to respond to emergencies and up to 350 less frontline firefighters available.

West Yorkshire FBU brigade secretary David Williams said: “Firefighters are angry because these cuts will double the size of some station grounds which in turn will slow response times. In emergency situations every second counts, a few seconds delay can be the difference between saving a life or failing to save it.

“ All we are asking is a fair settlement to provide a fire service that’s fit for purpose for our communities.”

West Yorkshire Fire Service faces losing around £18m in central government grants over the next four years.

The rally will assemble outside of the Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds at 12.30pm on Saturday.