One of the two fire engines at Kingston has been removed as part of the London Fire Brigade's preparation for potential strike action.

If the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) votes in favour of a strike in a ballot tomorrow, private contractors will be brought in to drive the 27 fire engines withdrawn from across London.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and even at this late stage I am urging firefighters to consider the effects strike action might have.

"London’s fire authority has a legal duty to provide a fire and rescue service at all times, including during a strike we are no longer able to turn to the military as we did during the last strike in 2002/3."

FBU members are about to be ballotted on changes to start and finish times.

Since 2003, when firefighters last went on strike, the Fire Brigade has not been allowed to rely on Green Goddesses and Army.

Assetco Fire and Rescue was hired in 2009 to provide fire cover in the event of severe pandemic illness, natural disaster or catastrophic incident as well as industrial action.

A spokesman for the FBU said: "This is completely unecessary.

"We don't even know if there's going to be a strike, let alone when.

"It is completely wrong to withdraw fire engines from use when there are fire fighters ready and willing to use them."