Three elderly people have died in house fires as Britain's first national firefighters' strike in 25 years continues.
Thousands of armed forces personnel spent the night attending emergency call-outs.
An elderly man died in hospital after being rescued by a Green Goddess crew from a fire in a flat in Halesowen, West Midlands. Another elderly man died following a house fire in Burnley, Lancashire.
A 76-year-old woman was killed in a fire in her home in Newtown, mid-Wales, an hour after firefighters went on strike. Local firefighters had left their picket lines to go to the scene.
The Fire Brigades Union expressed its condolences following the woman's death. FBU leader Mr Andy Gilchrist said: "Deaths in fires always affect firefighters deeply. Firefighters are among the finest humanitarians. That's why two fire crews turned out in response to the fire".
Liberal Democrat spokesman Mr Edward Davey said: "Whether or not this tragedy would have been avoided without the strike does not lessen its significance. It shows clearly that public safety is in question for every hour that the strike continues".
PA