Hampshire Fire Brigades Union leaders have hit back at Government claims that military crews coped well during the fire strike.

Paul Christopher, Hampshire's FBU chairman, said had it not been for the county's striking firefighters breaking picket lines, lives would have been lost.

"We went to 32 incidents in the eight-day period," he said. "The military in Hampshire haven't been tested when it comes to making life and death decisions that only years of training enable you to do."

Eastleigh firefighter and FBU pay claim co-ordinator, Wayne Parsons, said Chandler's Ford's Thornden School, set alight on Saturday night, would have burnt to the ground had the Green Goddesses attended.

"I was on the first fire engine to arrive," he said. "It was dark, a public building was on fire, we had difficulty getting through because of building work and there were no water pumps around.

"The Green Goddesses would have had to find water pumps because they can only carry 30 gallons on the vehicle - that's not enough to fill our pumps. We instantly called our water carrier, and were able to put the fire out."

He said the Government's plan to modernise the fire service and cut jobs on the basis of the military's performance was not viable.

"Forty percent of all calls asking for the fire service during the strike did not receive a response. Military crews have consistently failed to meet turn-out times laid down by the Government themselves.

"On the back of that we have the Government turning round saying the military is coping well and we don't need so many firefighters."

He added that firefighters he had spoken to say they would rather forget the 40% pay claim than agree to the proposed modernisation plans.

Mr Parsons said the plans would cut the number of firefighters on duty at night - prime time for deaths from fires. "It will just put more lives at risk," he added.

Union leaders say the decision to cancel this week's strike did not suggest the FBU were caving in.

Hampshire FBU's vice chairman, Shaun Lacey, said: "This development should not be considered as a sign of weakness from either side."