ESSEX could lose 138 full time firefighters after the public backed a £6.4million cost cutting measure.

The fire service will hold crunch talks next week as it draws up final plans to overhaul its resources.

The authority is under pressure of make cutbacks of around £7million every year until 2020, with a public consultation launched into three proposals put forward by the service being held earlier this year.

Its results show 73 per cent of the 17,000 people questioned backed option two, the least radical of the proposals, which will see the number of full time firefighters go from 570 to 432.

The service insists as a result of the overhaul the number of on call firefighters will go up from 437 to 456.

The proposal will also see five fire engines would be scrapped from stations including Rayleigh Weir, Orsett, Loughton, Corringham and Frinton.

One of two crews at Clacton will also become retained under the plans.

The other two options would have saved £8.6million and £10million, respectively, with a council tax hike set to fund the shortfall.

The two per cent rise means people living in band D properties will pay £1.35 extra a year.

What are the three options?

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Essex Fire Service has justified the cuts by arguing it now responds to about half as many emergencies as it did a decade ago.

Adam Eckley, acting chief fire officer, said: “The number of people participating in the consultation is unprecedented. Over the 12 week period we consulted on the options more than 17,000 people have had their say.

“This has given us an excellent insight into what the public, our staff and partners think of our plans and which of the three options we have put forward they prefer.

“Over the last ten years we have seen huge changes in demand for our service. Nationwide incidents have reduced by 42 per cent and in Essex they have fallen by 45 per cent, despite growth in population and traffic in the County.

“The decision the Essex Fire Authority will make next week will be key to the future of the service and the vital role we play in keeping Essex safe.”

The first proposal, saving £8.6million, would see 210 full time firefighter posts axed, leaving 360 full timers.

Second fire engines would be removed from seven stations, including Southend and Rayleigh.

A third option, to save £10million, would scrap 234 fulltime firefighter roles and remove second engines from seven stations.

Depending on which option is chosen, there will be between 14 and 18 full time crews on call at any given time.

The Essex Fire Authority meeting will take place at 10am on Wednesday, June 8 at service headquarters, at Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall.

The meeting will also be streamed live on the internet.

For more information, visit essex-fire.gov.uk/interactive/Options_for_change_2016-2020.