The East Anglian Daily Times is heading a campaign aiming to protect the future of the Suffolk fire service, following deputy prime minister John Prescott’s revelations of plans for a regionalised fire service.

His blueprint included a clear intention to create regional fire authorities which in the case East Anglia could mean the fire service covering Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Hundreds of readers have already registered their opposition to the Government’s plans in the No to Regional Fire Service campaign.

EADT editor Terry Hunt said: “While there is much positive in Mr Prescott’s plans to modernise the fire service, we believe passionately that any move towards regional fire fighting is quite simply wrong and dangerous.

“Like all emergency services, efficient fire brigades should be run locally, by local people, for local people.

“Our readers are sending a clear message to the Government – they want to keep their fire service local.”

The East Anglian Daily Times is asking its readers to sign a petition form which will be sent to the deputy PM directly, leaving him in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the region.

Terry promised the newspaper would make sure petition forms would reach the decision-makers in Whitehall.

Mr Prescott has gone on record saying that he hoped the report would tackle “shortcomings” revealed in the nine-month-long fire fighters pay row.