MERSEYSIDE is likely to face compulsory redundancies and station closures to its fire service, as chiefs tackle a fresh phase of cuts.

The force must manage a 25% reduction in its £70m budget over the next four years.

It will suffer an £18m hit after the withdrawal of government grants, following the Chancellor's spending review. The cut could even be between £24m and £26m.

New second-phase cuts earmarked for financial years 2013, 2014 and 2015 will follow a first stage of reductions, which are likely to be set in stone following the budget scheduled for February 17.

Phase one cuts which begin this April already stand at £8m – between 162 and 192 staff will take voluntary redundancy. The strategy for the phase two reductions will take shape up until February, 2013, and they are likely to spur compulsory firefighter redundancies and fire station closures.

Cllr James Mahon, vice-chairman of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, said public safety could be in “jeopardy” and added: “We have (already) pruned ourselves down from 1,400 to 900 firefighters. In stage two, we’ll have to prune the firefighters down more and close stations.