A fire station is operating with no officers or fire engines this morning due to a dispute with the London Fire Authority.

West Norwood fire station was left with no fire engines this morning after the number of engines across London was cut temporarily by 27, following work to rule industrial action taken by fire fighters.

Officers have not turned up to work, with only one fire fighter working at the station.

He said: “There are no officers here this morning. They’re not coming to work because they have no engines to use so there is no fire cover in West Norwood today.

“If there is a fire, crews from fire stations nearby will have to take the call.”

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: "The 27 fire engines are being used to provide a contingency level of fire service during strike periods will be returned to fire stations when the industrial dispute is fully resolved.

"At the moment, the FBU could call further strikes with a seven day notice period. The Brigade therefore needs to maintain its ability to implement the contingency level of fire service at short notice.

"If for any reason staff or fire engines in a particular station are temporarily unavailable we allocate resources from elsewhere to provide cover.

"We provide this sort of cover every day while crews are dealing with an emergency, carrying out community safety work or training away from their station.

"Fire cover is provided across the whole of Lambeth."