FOUR fire engines controversially dropped from frontline duty look set to be reinstated.

The pumps were taken out of action in August last year when a strike threat loomed over the fire service.

But, when that was dropped by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the engines were still held back.

Merseyside’s chief fire officer, Tony McGuirk, said he needed the engines to train reserve crews in case a second FBU ballot ended in a walk-out.

But grassroots firefighters claimed they were being stood down because of chronic staff shortages.

Now the leaders of the three political parties on Merseyside Fire Authority are due to meet with Mr McGuirk on Thursday, when they are expected to sign the engines back on duty.

They were removed from Low Hill, Old Swan, Wallasey and Crosby stations, leaving them with just one engine each.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Jack Colbert said: “The legal director has told me he is going to put them back.”

Cllr Colbert and prospective Sefton Central MP Richard Clein collected a 2,000-signature petition to try to persuade the authority to return the engines.

He added: “If you take firefighters and pumps away, you reduce fire cover and put lives at risk.”

In the second FBU ballot, firefighters voted for an overtime ban in protest at cuts.