Angry firefighters in England and Wales announced plans yesterday for two fresh strikes after the government back-peddled on a deal over pensions.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members will walk out on November 1 from 6.30pm to 11pm and on November 4 from 6am to 8am.

The union said the government and fire employers had failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.

Ministers and fire bosses reneged on promises made last week after publicly recognising for the first time that older firefighters faced losing their jobs and a "large chunk" of their pensions under new changes imposed in April.

During a meeting with the FBU, government officials admitted there was "a risk" of dismissal.

Afterwards fire chiefs sent a letter to the union containing proposals to deal with the issue, leading the FBU to cancel a planned strike. However when the groups sat down to discuss the proposals on Monday the FBU were told they had been taken off the table.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "The FBU has been very reasonable, but we are now faced with broken promises and those in power evading their responsibilities.

"The Westminster government has created this mess, but it is refusing to clear it up. It now recognises the problem, but it won't provide the legal and financial guarantees firefighters need to ensure they have a job and an unreduced pension in the future."

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "We facilitated further discussions between the FBU and employers over the issue of firefighter fitness. Talks were progressing encouragingly and in good faith so for the FBU to walk away after only four days of negotiation is completely baffling.

He claimed that the deal being offered to firefighters remained "one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector."

ButMr Wrack said: "Firefighters face the sack towards the end of their career and the loss of their pension.

"The employers promised to tackle the issue of firefighters facing the sack for failing fitness tests last week, only to say they can't offer any guarantees this week.

"The government is now making threats to withdraw some of the other concessions they have made this year. Their own report shows most firefighters cannot work beyond 55. They are trying to bludgeon firefighters into an unworkable pension scheme. We are not prepared to be bullied."