Firefighters will meet today to decide whether to continue with planned strike action next week.

The Fire Brigades Union committee said it would consider concessions offered by West Midlands Fire Authority after two hours of talks yesterday.

The discussions were held in an attempt to resolve an ongoing dispute over shift patterns and travel expenses.

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The FBU, which had already announced members would walk out from 6pm until 9pm on Monday, also yesterday revealed it would hold a further strike from 7am until 10am next Thursday.

Discussions at West Midlands Fire Service's headquarters in Birmingham were first adjourned on Tuesday after the FBU notified the authority of its intention to launch "discontinuous" strike action in the brigade area on Monday.

The union claims its members deserve compensation for anti-social hours and additional travel costs after the introduction of a new shift system.

The fire service confirmed its management had met representatives from the FBU for two hours and expressed disappointment that a second three-hour walkout had now been pencilled in for next Thursday.

A spokeswoman said last night: "The concessions put forward by the management were discussed in great detail at the meeting today.

"The fire authority would urge the FBU brigade committee to recognise the concessions that have been made to address all three consequential issues and to put the offer directly to their members."

A spokesman for the FBU said: "The talks have now concluded and management's proposals to settle this dispute will be taken to the West Midlands Brigade Committee of the Fire Brigades Union."