Leaders of the firefighters' union, meeting in Brighton today, were expecting criticism from hardline activists after tomorrow's planned strike was called off last night.

There is a possibility the six-month dispute could end today if delegates, meeting at the Metropole Hilton Hotel, follow the advice of the Fire Brigades Union and accept a 16 per cent pay rise.

The union's executive agreed to back the surprise offer but activists said it fell way short of the 40 per cent they had demanded.

The tabled pay rise of 16 per cent over three years was not improved but ministers, eager to avoid deploying troops to fight fires at home during the Gulf war, agreed to a series of demands for safeguards on working practices.

The unexpected offer, handed to the union's general secretary Andy Gilchrist at noon yesterday, will be put to delegates at the Brighton conference today.

Mr Gilchrist said the draft deal included significant changes to allay fears about sweeping reforms proposed by ministers.

Union leaders were poised, even before the Government's intervention, to suspend tomorrow's strike to avoid splitting the FBU and triggering a media backlash during a time of war.

But there was a determined mood among delegates congregating in Brighton from all over the country and a sense of anger the strike had been called off before the conference had an opportunity to discuss the new offer.

One activist described the climbdown as an absolute disgrace and added: "The executive has bottled it and there will be a bloodbath later."