FIRE stations could close, 140 firefighters' jobs will be axed and lives will be put at risk if the Government cuts £2m from fire authority spending plans, officials have warned.

A report, published by Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority this morning, outlines the "catastrophic" consequences that would occur if the Government persists with its threat to cap proposed council tax rises.

It is the first time in the history of the British fire service that there is a possibility of firefighters facing redundancy over funding issues, Coun Richard Udall, chairman of the authority, revealed said.

The service will become so restricted it might not be able to tackle "unforeseen" emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, flooding in the two counties or major fires, Coun Udall added.

The news comes after Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford labelled the authority's plans for a 29.4 per cent rise in its share of the current council tax bills - the largest increase in the country - as "unacceptable".

This would see the two counties' fire service facing a shortfall of £2m - but officials say this is the equivalent to just £7 a year, or two pence a day, for average Band D taxpayer.

"I would implore Evening News readers to help us to help them. We need their support in our campaign to persuade the Government of the error of its ways," urged Coun Udall.

"All it will cost is two pence a day. Without that, lives are at risk."

He said 180 jobs would be axed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire if the capping went ahead - 93 full-time firefighters, 47 retained firefighters, and 40 frontline support staff.

The figure is almost a quarter of all the 800 staff currently employed by the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority.

Closing fire stations could not be ruled out, but it was too soon to say which ones would be at risk, said Coun Udall.