Firefighters across Oxfordshire left picket lines to return to work as their strike came to an end last night -- but vowed to walk out next week unless their demands for a 40 per cent pay rise were met.

The Fire Brigades Union said an eight-day strike would start at 9am on Friday unless local authority employers agreed to the increase, taking the salary of a qualified firefighter to £30,000.

Oxfordshire's FBU chairman Barry Stockford said: "We're sick and tired of being blackmailed into accepting an inadequate wage because of our commitment to the public.

"Our determination remains solid. If it's what it takes, we will walk back out together, stay out together and when this is resolved walk back in together. We will not give up."

Over the past two days, military crews from the Army, RAF and Royal Navy, used seven Green Goddesses to respond to emergency calls throughout the county.

The Goddesses were called out 28 times, supported twice by retained firefighters.

Yesterday morning, a retained crew from Eynsham helped three people trapped in two cars involved in a collision on the A40, near Cassington.

Retained firefighters also saved an unconscious man from his home in Tudor Close, Wallingford, after fire broke out in the kitchen.

Oxfordshire's chief fire officer John Parry praised MoD crews for their work, but said he was concerned about their lack of training.

He criticised Government plans to allow troops to use modern fire engines if more strikes go ahead.

Elsewhere in the country, crews are being trained to operate fire engines.

At least 15 out of 100 training engines have been sent to major cities so troops can familiarise themselves with equipment.

Mr Parry said: "The only real advantage these engines have on the Green Goddesses is a high pressure pump.

"To use that pump you have to be inside a building and there's no way I would want these untrained crews risking their lives to do that.

"The military staff have done their best but it would be unjustified and foolish to send them out in these fire engines and expect them to mimic the role of a qualified firefighter."

HOAX callers will be severely dealt with during fire service strikes, police have warned.

Thames Valley Police received six hoax calls since the start of the fire service strike at 6pm on Wednesday.

After initial investigations, all were found to be hoax calls and none was attended by Goddesses. Three calls came from the Oxford area.

Supt Dan Hale, of Thames Valley Police, said: "We need to send a clear message that anyone caught making hoax calls will be prosecuted."