Redbridge firefighters are due to strike again tonight over the Fire Brigades Union’s pensions dispute with the government.

Ilford, Hainault and Woodford members of the union will walk out between 6.30pm today and 12.30am tomorrow.

The organisation’s general secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Christmas is just an ordinary working time for firefighters and our members have been on the front line dealing with storms, floods and other emergencies every day.

“None of us wanted these strikes, but firefighters on duty over the festive period don’t have much to celebrate this year as they are being priced out of their pensions and face the sack because the government can’t accept that 60-year-old men and women can’t meet the same fitness standards as 20-year-olds.

“We need to see genuine dialogue and real negotiations to resolve this dispute, so perhaps the prime minister would like to come along to visit firefighters on New Year’s Eve and hear directly why they are so angry?”

A further strike across England and Wales is due to take place on January 3, between 6.30am and 8.30am.