LONDON fire engines commandeered during strikes over shift patterns will be returned to their stations, according to a member of the fire authority.

Twenty-seven engines were taken out of stations across the capital when industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) began last year.

FBU bosses yesterday hit out at the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) for not returning the vehicles, held by private contractor Asset Co, saying the dispute formally ended on Friday.

But Navin Shah, London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow, and Labour's leader on the fire authority says they will be returned today.

He said: “I very much welcome the negotiated settlement that has been reached and the ending of this long and damaging dispute.

“The safety of Londoners is paramount. Now that the strike action is lifted Londoners will have their missing 27 fire engines, currently in the possession of private contractor AssetCo, returned today to their local fire stations.

“No doubt Londoners will be as relieved as I am. We have waited a long time to hear this excellent news.”

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, yesterday said: “Londoners will not understand why their fire engines are being held by a private contractor instead of being returned to fire stations.

“The Chief Fire Officer and Councillor Brian Coleman have repeatedly claimed that these fire engines are available and will be returned as soon as the dispute is ended.

“It is now ended and yet they are still unable to return them.”

Natalja Paramonova, a spokesman for the London Fire Brigade, said: "We have always said that we would return the 27 fire engines as soon as practically possible after the FBU called off their industrial action.

"We have now received confirmation that their action has been called off and we are now in the process of returning these fire engines."