FIREFIGHTERS who work at the weekend could be replaced by staff from outside the town, if proposed cuts go ahead.

The fire service plans to change the hours of fulltime firefighters and hire staff on part-time contracts during the weekends.

Fire bosses intend to offer firefighters 16 part-time contracts to cover weekends at Malvern Fire Station.

Opponents say this will result in a 'cobbled together' service with firefighters from outside the area working one weekend a month.

The changes are expected to save an estimated £300,000 and will restore fulltime fire crew numbers from four back up to five.

Crews of five are beneficial because they can work quicker and can still respond even if one firefighter falls ill.

Cllr Sarah Rouse, of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "At weekends crews will be mixed. They will not normally work together nor train together.

"My concerns are as always safety. The weekend part-time staff are unlikely to have the local knowledge we have now. The part-time crew will not be trained in the Argo Cat for the hills.

"They will again not be rope trained, unless they come from Droitwich...[and] the training in water rescue will also be dependent on which station they come from.

"In my opinion this will be the worst possible crewing situation. What we will have at weekends is a cobbled together crewing solution. This is the worst of all worlds."

The part-time staff will be based at the fire station during the weekends and operate one of the station's two fire engines.

The second fire engine will be manned by retained firefighters, who have other jobs and live nearby.

A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the part-time contracts will be offered to fulltime and retained firefighters.

"They will work and train together for approximately 18.6 hours per month and can be trained in the specialisms - if they are not already trained as existing Malvern staff," the spokesman said.

"Members of staff not familiar with the area will develop local knowledge over time as would any new recruit to the station.

"If they wish to do so, existing members of wholetime [fulltime] staff at Malvern Fire Station can take the weekend contracts as they will be working a system that allows them the flexibility to work a nine day fortnight."

The spokesman said fulltime firefighters at Malvern would work 4.5 hours more per week and make an extra £4,000 per year if they take up the contracts.

They added that the contracts are for 26 weekend days per year.

The fire service is still discussing the proposals with the Fire Brigades Union and councillors on the Fire Authority are due to have a full briefing on the changes in the future.

To sign the petition against the cuts go on http://bit.ly/2r0mqrn