POLICE in North Yorkshire are in line for large overtime payments during the firefighters' strike.

Officers who have completed their normal daily shifts will be asked to provide support to the emergency army Green Goddess strike cover.

The ageing vehicles are less mobile than normal fire engines and must be accompanied by a police car to ensure a smooth passage through traffic.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has said central Government will pay any overtime for police officers escorting the vehicles when the first walkouts start next Tuesday.

Whitehall will also pay forces workers to run the Green Goddesses.

The news came as the Government hardened its stance against the Fire Brigades Union, which has called 36 days of strikes lasting for up to eight days at a time.

Bob Blackburn, regional secretary of the York and Humberside branch of the Fire Brigade union, described the decision as "hypocritical".

He said: "If the Government can afford to pay overtime then why are they insisting that there's no money for any increase in firefighters' pay?

"It does strike me as being a bit hypocritical."

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he would not provide any extra cash to settle public sector pay claims like the firefighters' demands.

The FBU has called for a 40 per cent pay rise, taking firefighters pay up to £30,000.

But Mr Brown warned that settling such a claim could damage the economy in the face of a world economic slowdown.

Les Coverdale, deputy secretary of the North Yorkshire Police Federation, said the cover would cost in the region of £4,000 per day for an extra 18 officers - more than £200 per officer per day.

He said: "We would ask for volunteers for overtime and it will be paid for by central Government so ratepayers don't pick up the tab."

Meanwhile, the FBU is coming under increasing pressure to promise to provide cover in the case of a large-scale emergency.

A meeting was held yesterday between ministers and FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist to discuss what cover could be provided in the event of a crisis.

The talks ended with Mr Gilchrist saying there were "no guarantees" that its members would help out in such a circumstance.

But it has since emerged that the head of the Trades Union Congress, John Monks, has written and phoned Mr Gilchrist to remind him of TUC guidelines on the conduct of disputes.

Firemen who were called out to an automatic alarm in Acomb were left stranded for over an hour after their vehicle broke down. A fire service spokeswoman confirmed that the crew attended York Road in Acomb yesterday afternoon, but was then forced to call out a mechanic.

Updated: 11:04 Tuesday, October 22, 2002