CAMPAIGNERS have voiced their concerns about cuts to fire crews at a protest outside the fire service’s headquarters.

A union organised the protest ahead of a Fire Authority meeting at the fire service’s headquarters on Tuesday.

The Fire Brigades Union claims the cuts will result in a downgrade of fire cover at night in Malvern and Evesham.

Malvern watch commander Saul Bolton has previously warned that this could have ‘potentially dangerous’ consequences.

The fire service is proposing to reduce the number of fulltime firefighters at Malvern Fire Station from 12 to seven.

The changes are due to be implemented by next January.

More than 530 people have signed a petition against the cuts, which was set up by Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigades Union.

Jeremy Thomas, the deputy mayor of Malvern Town Council, said: "I think there's a need for it to be reconsidered. I support the firemen in getting a fair deal.

"I'm not sure either the authority or the firemen have got it right. It's something that needs to be discussed fully.

"Malvern should have adequate fire cover. The firemen think this will put this at risk.

"After Grenfell Tower one feels this isn't the time to think of any changes. It was a watershed moment.

"If they keep cutting emergency services when something like that happens they are not going to be there."

During the Fire Authority meeting, Labour councillors put forward an amendment to delay the proposals, but this was defeated.

Other councillors raised concerns about the timing of the move, claiming that people were worried about fire safety after the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Chief Fire Officer Nathan Travis said the service has a £1.6m budget gap and added that the Grenfell Tower fire debate was more about safety precautions than fire crews.

The cuts have been proposed as part of a review into ways to restore fulltime firefighter crews to five members.

The crews dropped down to four members in April after the fire service exhausted £800,000 earmarked to maintain crews of five.

But bosses have accepted that there are a number of advantages to crews of five.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service made the decision to reduce the numbers per crew in 2014.

To sign the petition log on to http://bit.ly/2r0mqrn