TWENTY-SEVEN fire engines taken out of commission during strikes have been returned, the London Fire Brigade has confirmed.

The vehicles were taken out of fire stations and held by private contractor Asset Co during industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) over shift patterns.

But the dispute was formerly brought to an end on Friday and the engines were returned to their stations yesterday.

Ron Dobson, London's fire commissioner, 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 during the course of yesterday we have returned the appliances to their base stations. This has now been completed.”