Five out of 10 West Midlands fire stations controversially earmarked for closure will now stay open following a concerted campaign by protesters.

The decision to take Hay Mills, Billesley, Sheldon, Smethwick and Ward End stations off the closure list has been hailed as victory by campaigners in the neighbourhoods affected.

Thousands of people, particularly in south-east Birmingham, have signed petitions, written letters and attended meetings to oppose the plan which they claim would put lives at risk.

In November, the Fire Service announced proposals to axe 10 stations and open eight new ones in a bid to improve overall response times to emergency incidents.

The chairman of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, Peter Howard, said that the reprieve showed that they were listening to the people they serve. He said: “Having carefully considered all the responses received during the public consultation period, members of the Authority listened to many of the concerns expressed and have modified some of its original proposals.”

He added: “This shows that we do not just pay lip service to our consultation process but we are genuinely interested in people’s views and we do listen, whilst our overall goal is to continually reduce risk in the communities of the West Midlands.”

Hodge Hill Labour councillor Anita Ward, who raised petitions against the Ward End closure, said: “I am pleased that, despite the initial proposals, Ward End fire station looks like it will stay.”

The proposals will be put forward for formal approval at a meeting of the Authority on February 9.