Protestors against plans to change crew manning levels at Pembrokeshire's only 24-hour fire station marched through the streets of Haverfordwest on Saturday.

Carrying banners and handing out leaflets to shoppers, they made their way from Haverfordwest Fire Station to the Town Council office in Picton Place.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority's plan would mean that at night, firefighters would be on call from their home rather than based at the station.

The fire brigade union says this would add to response times, but the fire authority insists there would be less than five minutes difference.

However, concern over fire brigade staff cutbacks in Pembrokeshire has grown and politicians, mayors, county and town councillors joined firefighters, their families and the general public in the demonstration.

Petitions signed by almost 4,000 people were handed over to Haverfordwest's mayor Cllr Christopher Gillham.

Cllr Gillham said: "This is a fight we shall win. The lives of the people of Haverfordwest and Pembrokeshire should not be put at risk in order to balance some books for the National Assembly and Westminster governments."

Local AM Christine Gwyther said: "As south Pembrokeshire's AM it is important for me to show support for the last remaining 24-hour station in Pembrokeshire. We have important industrial developments along the waterway and also the Bluestone project at Canaston Bridge. This is not the time to cut back on our emergency services."

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Tamsin Dunwoody pointed out that Pembrokeshire had many rural roads where accidents occurred and an early response from firefighters was essential to save lives.

"We also have a booming industry on the haven involving LNG development and potential power stations.

"It is only right Pembrokeshire should be viewed as a special case. "

Roger Curran, of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "We are not going to go down without a fight.

"The authority does not accept it is downgrading, but it is. We must keep up the pressure, especially on the local county councillors who sit on the fire authority and who have actively backed the proposals to apply these measures."