FIRE station cooks are to lose their jobs as part of a cost saving exercise.

Although a bid to make all 97 of London's cooks redundant was defeated, the current batch of well-loved members of staff will be the last, thanks to plans which will not see them replaced if they leave or retire.

Lewisham Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) has criticised the plan, which will see four cooks lost in the borough, saying bosses would rather they ate fry ups in cafes than maintain a decent service for their staff.

The move came about after a review of catering by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Its Labour chairman, Valerie Shaw-cross, says research showed social and dietary changes meant many firefighters no longer wanted hot meals in the middle of the day.

She says Conservative members wanted an immediate end to cooks to save £1.5m but Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green party voted for a long term phase out of cooks.

She added: "The rational for having cooks is fading now.

"We didn't want to make people redundant because they've been good and loyal staff.

"It will take a while to work out alternative arrangements."

But the FBU has slammed the decision as an example of yet another blow to firefighters' morale.

Lewisham group secretary Eugene Lynch said: "This says they basically don't consider people who supply a 24- hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week, service should be able to eat regular meals and proper food.

"How dare they tell us we have to eat in a cafe and buy burgers for a meal.

"If we had a choice we'd have cooks full time"

He added this was just the latest in a series of cuts by the fire service.