FULL-time firefighters numbers could be cut under Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) money-saving proposals.

A union representative and politicians have slammed a raft of options put forward by the fire and rescue authority.

Among possible changes subject to a 12-week consultation are closing eight stations, including Porlock; removing third fire engines from Taunton, Bridgwater, Yeovil and Torquay; downgrading three whole-time stations in Devon, with on-call crews covering nights; removing 14 fire engines service-wide; and employing six roaming appliances rather than basing them at stations.

The service says the changes would involve "low risk/activity stations and engines".

James Leslie, Devon and Somerset Fire Brigades Union secretary, said it could potentially lead to scores of jobs going.

He said: "We're not expecting any whole-time posts to go, but there is the potential for that.

"We've lost a quarter of all whole-time firefighters in the last five years. We haven't got enough left to lose any more."

Mr Leslie added: "As a union, we're opposing the whole lot and encouraging individual stations to launch their own campaigns. We're against all the cuts.

"They're going to put a lot more people outside response times. The potential consequence is a slower response.

"The longer you leave a fire, the bigger it gets. Even if you're not involved directly, there will be a lot of moving fire engines around to cover other stations."

A response by the fire and rescue authority to a question on the cuts posed to Devon and Somerset Fire Authority by LibDem Gideon Amos said: "Within the options being considered, there are proposals that do present the possibility for a reduction of whole-time firefighter numbers."

Mr Amos said he was angry at the reductions on the cards and the possible job losses, blaming them on a decrease in Government funding.

He added: "These cuts are bound to mean slower response times to affected locations and the authority now urgently needs to publish the data on that in the interests of public safety."

Fellow LibDem Cllr Simon Coles, who is on the fire authority, said: "The prospect now of cuts to whole-time firefighter numbers really concerns me, especially since we are still waiting to hear what the reductions in response times will be."

A DSFRS spokesman said: "Whole-time firefighter posts will not be affected by the removal of the third appliances.

"In the event of firefighter posts being affected by the wider proposals, we will always look to provide alternative employment or relocation for our firefighters.

"The third fire engines at Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil, crewed by on-call firefighters, are rarely used and are often unavailable.

"The proposal is to remove these appliances and re-distribute the resources to areas where there is a greater need and to help prevent fires from happening in the first place."