A planned eight-day strike by firefighters in Northern Ireland and Britain which was due to start on Wednesday was suspended today so that "exploratory talks" can be held in a bid to resolve the bitter dispute over pay.
The executive of the Fire Brigades' Union took the decision after meeting for more than four hours at the union's headquarters in Surrey.
It is understood that the union and the fire service employers will both brief the conciliation service Acas in a bid to break the deadlock.
The union staged an eight-day strike which ended on Saturday morning and was due to take further industrial action in the run-up to Christmas. PA