FRONTLINE firefighting services in Wiltshire are at risk from the latest round of Government spending cuts, firefighters have warned.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will lose more than a quarter of its funding as its budget is slashed by 27 per cent by 2020 - the third largest cut in England.

Only Hereford and Worcester and Shropshire fire services stand to lose more, with cuts of 28 per cent.

The Fire Brigades Union is warning this could force the service to axe firefighters, scrap fire engines and close fire stations.

Karen Adams, the brigade secretary for the Dorset And Wiltshire FBU, said the two county services merged last year in order to stay solvent when faced with cuts in Government grants.

She said the merging of support staff departments aimed to make savings which would protect the front line.

“As a result our support departments have been trimmed to the bare minimum and our staff are working extremely hard to maintain the crucial support function they provide,” she said.

“Further cuts to our Government grant are forcing Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to start looking at the front line, as the service has nowhere else to go.”

But Ms Adams said the FBU and the fire authority were united in their approach to protect the front line.

“Ultimately, the monies have to be found and the service will have to look at the number of firefighters, appliances and fire stations it has,” she said.

“From our perspective, the savings that need to be found can only be negative for the public, as reducing the front line means a reduction to the service we provide the community.”

The Local Government Finance Settlement, published earlier this year, revealed Central Government would cut £135m from fire services, as part of a shift towards local authorities raising the money to pay for their services instead of being funded by Government.

The FBU has warned MPs that many services will struggle to provide an appropriate level of cover in their communities because of the cuts.

Chief fire officer Ben Ansell was not available for comment.