I am deeply concerned by the continuing firefighters' strikes. My union asked me to support them, which I cannot.

They are placing the lives of our servicemen and women in more danger than necessary, for they have to cover instead of getting on with vital training which may save their lives in the present situation.

I have reluctantly resigned from my union in protest after being a member for 50 years and will rejoin only if it condemns the strikes.

My wife and I spent seven years of our young lives in the wartime Army and know how vital training is. We are thankful we survived when many of our friends did not.

I cannot understand how the firefighters can act in this way at this critical time and can only think they are selfish and very unpatriotic.

Whatever one's views on the Iraq position, there is a very great danger to our Armed Forces, who need the support of everyone.

I have been retired a number of years but even before I left the job had changed a lot through modernisation.

I did a second job until I was in my forties but that had to fit in with my main one, not the other way round as the current firefighters seem to want.

-Eric G Witherden, Foredown Drive, Portslade