FOR the next seven days this thin grey line could be all that stands to protect your lives.
These brave men and women of the Royal Navy will be responsible for tackling Hampshire's fires after firefighters went on strike over pay for the second time in as many weeks.
Sticking to their threat of a national eight-day strike unless an agreement on salaries could be reached, full-time firefighters across Hamp-shire and the Isle of Wight walked out at 9am yesterday.
Naval Commander Mark Durkin, who is leading the stand-in fire service said: "The public will need to maintain their concentration and be extra careful during the coming week. Our troops are well motivated and we are confident we can cope."
More on the Firefighters strike inside tonight's Daily Echo
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