ATTEMPTS are being launched to avert any more firefighter strikes in Worcestershire, with a leading councillor saying they are causing too much "harm and damage" and "costing money".

The fire authority is being asked to back a new motion next month asking the Government to "return to the negotiating table" with the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) in a bid to stop any more walkouts.

The bid, by fire authority Labour group leader Councillor Richard Udall, follows 46 separate periods of strike action since 2013, the longest running dispute in fire service history, culminating in the four-day stoppage which ended on Tuesday.

It will need the backing of a majority of the 25 councillors to be backed.

"A considerable amount of public money has been wasted to provide essential fire cover during the dispute," he said.

"This money would be better spent on front line fire cover, employing firefighters and keeping fire stations open.

"The strikes are deeply regrettable and the Government should never have got into this position. "Ministers should urgently get around the negotiating table to avert further strikes that nobody wants."

He described the situation as "shambolic" and said "nobody should expect 60-year-olds to be running up ladders and entering burning buildings."

"I will be asking the Fire Authority to send a clear signal to Government to find a resolution, it is not a dispute of our making," he added.

"We can no longer sit back as a spectator watching the dispute intensifying, it is hurting the service and damaging our finances, we need to intervene."

The motion has won the backing of the FBU in Worcestershire.

Branch secretary Steve Gould said: "Morale is as low as I've known it, but support for the strikes was very strong.

"We are one of only 11 fire services out of 46 in the country going to four crews on engines instead of five.

"We've also got 100 MPs backing an Early Day Motion (in the House of Commons) looking into this pension situation."

The row is centred around asking firefighters to work until 60 to get a full pension, with those looking to retire at 55 or 57 losing up to 40 per cent of their money.

Firefighters are also being asked to pay more of their salaries towards their pensions and accept a one per cent pay rise, essentially a cut.

Fire minister Penny Mordaunt called the latest strikes "regrettable" and "unnecessary".

The fire minister said that under a proposed new scheme, nearly three quarters of firefighters would see no change in their pension age in 2015 and a firefighter who earned £29,000 would retire after a full career aged 60 with a £19,000-a-year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

Councillor Derek Prodger, fire authority chairman, said: "I personally think the pension argument is with the Government.

"But if Richard wants to bring something to the table, we will debate it. We are all frustrated and want to see this resolved.

"The first point is that if he is looking to bring something to the next meeting of the authority, he is entitled to do so and we will look at it.

"Secondly, this problem is between the Government and FBU. I don't how to resolve this but it needs to be done."