Firefighters at Kingston, New Malden and Surbiton are steeling themselves to take industrial action later this year, after a “cuts” dispute with London fire bosses.

The London Fire Brigades Union, whose national office is based in Coombe Road, Norbiton, will ballot members on plans to scrap current contracts and change shift patterns.

Brigade managers want to move to an 11 hour day and 13 hour night shift from the current shifts of 9am to 6pm in the day and 6pm to 9am at night.

Firefighters said they had been threatened with the sack if they did not sign the new contracts and claimed there were closures planned.

FBU rep Dave Young, a firefighter at Kingston for nine years, said: “The main thing is they are trying to get us on these contracts so they can cut fire cover.

“They just want to shut 20 stations in London, 32 fire engines and 30 per cent of front line staff.

“We don’t know what stations but obviously Kingston is public land so it could be us. We are all up in arms.”

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade denied stations were being closed or staff cut.

He said: "There’s nothing at all proposed at the moment. Nobody is talking about station’s now. To link it is a red herring.”"

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "This is totally unnecessary. These changes are about doing all that we possibly can with existing resources to make Londoners safe."

The ballot is due to take place on September 17. Last year the London Fire Brigade’s budget rose to £437.3m but budget cuts in October’s spending review are feared.