Firefighters will not respond to automatic fire alarms in hospitals, residential homes and schools during strike action.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have said such calls must be followed up by a manual 999 call in order for them to respond.

Since February 2011, ECFRS has reduced fire calls by not responding to automatic fire alarms from offices or calls from public telephones where the caller hangs up, unless there is a follow up call.

However, the service has maintained its response to automatic fire alarms in premises where there is risk to life, such as schools, and also where people sleep, such as hospitals and residential homes.

The strike action will take place between 6.30pm and 11.00pm on Friday and 6.00am and 8.00am on Monday November 4.

Essex firefighters and appliances will be responding to 999 calls as normal but resources are likely to be stretched.

The dispute is between the Fire Brigades Union and the Government over proposed pension reforms.