Firefighters have raised fears over how quick they could get to a serious fire after Bow fire station was stripped of one of its engines.

Engines have been taken from Bow, Poplar, Whitechapel, Plaistow and Stratford fire stations.

The removal of engines from 27 stations across the capital is part of preparations currently being made by London Fire Brigade in case firefighers vote in favour of strike action over pension changes.

Today the only fire engine left at Bow station was sent to deal with a tyre alight on a piece of wasteland, believed to be a former playground, off Old Ford Road.

A firefighter said: “We think it was just some kids who had used matches or a light to set the tyre on fire. We dealt with it quickly and went back to the station.

“But it raises fears of what could have happened if we had been needed at a fire elsewhere.”