FOUR of East Lancashire's under-threat retained fire crews have been saved but two others are to be axed, bosses have said.

And after the Combined Fire Authority decided the crews' fate at a meeting today, campaigners from Barnoldswick and Great Harwood pledged to fight on to save the towns' retained firefighters.

Plans to axe a retained crew at Accrington, Colne and Haslingden, and cutting one of the two retained crews at Padiham, were recommended to be dropped.

And the proposals to close Barnoldswick and Earby and stations and build one replacement in the Salterforth area, and only having staff at Rawtenstall during the day, were also dropped.

The recommendations will be approved at a meeting of the full fire authority later this month.

But regarding Barnoldswick, County Coun Shelagh Derwent told the meeting that the public had shown its strength of feeling in the shape of a 8,000 signature petition against the cuts in Pendle and they should be listened to.

And Coun David Whipp, who is leading the campaign against the cuts, added: "The meeting was manipulated so there was no proper debate.

"We will be stepping up our campaign against the cuts.

"They should be honest about why they are doing this. It is for financial reasons.

"This is a disastrous decision for the people of Barnoldswick and Great Harwood."

Steve Harman, secretary for the FBU in Lancashire, said the decision was inevitable as the final decision will be made next month.

He said: "We have always said that you can't tell people in Barnoldswick that they are going to be safer if a fire engine is taken away."

Coun Bob Wilkinson denied the cuts were being made for financial reasons, and said the changes would actually cost the authority money.

He said: "I believe through this consultation process that the public have shown how highly they regard the fire service.

"The fact that we have changed the proposals shows that we have listened."

The meeting heard that the crews would be axed from Barnoldswick and Great Harwood in March or April next year.