Fire chiefs in Shropshire will sit down next week to consider a blueprint setting out ways of saving £3 million over the next four years to offset government spending cuts.

The findings of a major review, which has been described as a “new vision for an uncertain future,” set out a range of initiatives for dealing with public sector funding cuts while protecting the county’s 999 cover.

The proposals, most of which have come from brigade staff, are based on an expected 25 per cent reduction in grants to the service.

They aim to protect frontline services and ensure none of the brigade’s 23 stations are closed.

“When people dial 999, they will still get a fully-equipped fire engine sent to them, with fully-trained firefighters turning up in the same time as they do now,” said Paul Raymond, chief fire officer.

The plans should also help to safeguard the service from becoming part of a regional organisation. But there will be changes.

Sixty staff leaving over the next four years will not be replaced and home and business fire protection will be reduced, though Mr Raymond stressed that the “vulnerable” would still be protected.

At present the brigade has sufficient senior officers to manage and supervise two simultaneous major incidents.

But in future officers might have to be drafted in from neighbouring services.

The brigade’s vehicles also will have to last longer.

Specialist appliances, such as the aerial ladder and rescue tender, will not be permanently crewed with full-time firefighters.

It is likely to mean delays of up to five minutes in mobilising them but the savings from such changes are big at about £500,000.

The biggest saving will come from not replacing the 60 staff being lost through “natural wastage.” They include 20 full-time firefighter and 20 retained posts.

The savings on these will be £862,000.

The local government funding settlement is expected on Monday.