Firefighters from across London joined thousands of colleagues from around the country to lobby for their pay to rise to £30,000.

Leaving behind only the crews who had a shift to cover, about 160 firefighters headed for Westminster Central Hall on Monday to meet 20,000 of their counterparts from all corners of the country.

Last-ditch talks were being held there to clinch a deal and avert industrial action.

Chairman for Dartford's Fire Brigade's Union (FBU) Steve Rogers said the trek to London was to highlight how firefighters needed a "liveable wage".

The basic salary is £21,500 but firefighters say this should be raised by 40 per cent to £30,000, if they are to have the same pay rise deals as other sectors.

Mr Rogers said nearly half of the current basic salary is lost either to the tax man or to the pensions scheme and senior colleagues still claim family tax credit because they do not earn enough to support their families.

The FBU has not taken industrial action since 1977 but Mr Rogers did not rule out striking to get what they want.

He said: "We don't want to strike but if that's what we have to do to get the Government and our employers Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority to listen, then this is what we are going to have to do."

He added the Government seemed willing to waste millions of pounds to train the army to cover striking firefighters, instead of directing the money straight into firefighters' bank accounts.

Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate, who has written to ministers expressing concern for local firefighters, said: "I want our firefighters to press their case so they are treated equitably with similar professional groups."

But Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority said pay increases were discussed nationally between the FBU and the national employers, the Local Government Association.

Authority chairman Derek Dolding said: "We want a partnership with the FBU which will allow this first class service to continue and we hope the threat of strike action, which will unnecessarily jeopardise the lives of members of the public, is withdrawn."