Hereford firefighters downed tools and stopped work for the second time in a month today as the national fire brigade strike hit the county's fire protection.

Duty fire-fighters found out early this morning that their worst fears had been released and union and government negotiators had not managed to reach agreement.

Sub-officer Ron Morris, on duty until the strike started at 9am said: "We are absolutely gutted.

"All we want to do is get on with the job we are paid to do. We were hoping a deal would be sorted out at the last minute and now we hear this.

"We are pig sick."

Herefordshire's retained, or part time, crews will continue to work as usual, backed up by two RAF Green Goddess engines in Hereford.

The strike is due to last eight days.