TWO fire engines currently held at a secret location should be returned to Waltham Forest following three serious fires in one night, according to a union.

The vehicles were taken from Leyton and Chingford stations to provide cover as an industrial dispute which resulted in two one-day strikes rumbled on last year.

But they have still not been returned, despite the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voting to accept a new shift pattern proposal - although they have not yet signed any agreement with bosses.

A woman was killed in Walthamstow on January 5, while another was seriously injured in Leyton.

Seven gas cylinders were at risk of exploding during a fierce four-and-a-half hour blaze in Chingford.

While the FBU has not said extra fire engines would have made a difference in any of the cases, the union says a reduction in resources is putting residents' safety at risk.

The London Fire Brigade says it will not return them until the FBU agrees to rule out future strike action.

The brigade says it is confident there are enough engines to keep London safe, but the union insists lives are being put at risk.

A union spokeswoman said: "Any death is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the family of the young woman involved.

"As the public knows, engines were removed from stations across London, including Chingford and Leyton, and have not been returned.

"The FBU has been calling consistently for the return of these engines to keep Londonders safe."

A brigade spokesman said: "The situation has not changed. We're still at a stage where a strike could be called within seven days."

A meeting will be held next Thursday (January 13) in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

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