GOVERNMENT spending chiefs have been told putting a cap on fire brigade spending would heighten "probabilities of deaths and injuries".

A total of 195 jobs would also be lost, Whitehall was warned, if action was taken against Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade.

In an official response to the capping threat, which demanded a £2.3 million cut to the present budget or limited spending next year, the Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority said its spending plans were "reasonable".

The response stated: "There are heightened probabilities of deaths and injuries from the consequences of the Government's proposals. Corporate risk increases enormously because of the potential failure to meet statutory obligations."

Job cuts would hit 27 per cent of full-time and 13 per cent of retained firefighters throughout the two counties, it stated.

Investment in a "modern fire and rescue" service would also be affected, undermining public confidence in the service said the document. The row erupted after the authority set an increase for its part of the council tax bill to 29.4 per cent, making the average band D property bill for the service £60.21.

This is an increase of around £7 on previous band D bills.

Members of authority agreed its response in a meeting on May 18.

The final decision by the Government is expected before the summer recess of parliament in July, said authority chairman, Richard Udall.