Firefighters, and the councillors that ensure their funding, are disappointed that the government has cut the money going to Wiltshire Fire brigade.

The local government settlement for the next financial year 2019-20 will see Whitehall providing £14.1 million for the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

That's £3.6m less than the settlement in 2016-17 and according to the Fire Brigades Union is a 20 per cent cut.

That's significantly higher than the average 15 per cent cut to fire services from Whitehall nationally over the same period.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “It is appalling that the government is trying to sneak through cuts to fire and rescue services with virtually no scrutiny. They are ramping up their austerity measures despite claiming that austerity is over.

“Nearly two years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, this Tory government is still showing a complete disregard for public safety. A properly funded fire and rescue service is essential to protect our communities from fire and a wide range of other threats. These cuts are a danger to firefighters and a danger to the public.”

Swindon councillors who sit on the brigade's fire authority, which makes political decisions are also disappointed.

Coun Garry Perkins is the authority's vice chairman. He said: "We'd have liked the freedom to set a higher precept that the police and crime commissioner was able to do. Angus Macpherson was allowed to set and increase of £24 per year this year, which isn't that huge an amount for the individual payers, but will fund another 40 officers.

"We weren't able to do that, we were restricted to a 2.99 per cent increase."

Coun Perkins said significantly increased efficiency has helped over the last couple of years but there may be trouble ahead if the fire authority doesn't receive more money, or isn't allowed to set higher tax precepts.

He added: "When we merged Dorset and Wiltshire brigades, which wasn't an easy decision, we were expecting to save about £4m a year but we've managed to save even more- but it can't go one forever. We've set a balanced budget this year, but the next two years, we might be at the edge of the precipice looking over."

Coun Abdul Amin is another Swindon councillor on the authority: "I was very disappointed when we wrote to the secretary of state to be able to set a £5 increase that we weren't allowed, and the maximum was £2.17, especially compared to the £24 the police were able to ask for this year."