DORSET'S fire chief has paid tribute to the four brave firemen killed searching for trapped workers in the Warwickshire warehouse inferno.

Firefighter Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after colleagues pulled him from the massive vegetable packing plant, which police now think may have been torched deliberately.

Fellow firefighters Darren Yates-Badley, 24, John Averis, 27, and Ashley Stephens, 20, were also killed. One body was recovered from the rubble yesterday and as the Echo went to press the search for the remaining two continued.

Dorset Fire and Rescue chief fire officer Darran Gunter said: "We are saddened by the deaths of our colleagues in Warwickshire.

"At times like these the fire service demonstrates our strength of feeling through our community and as a community."

The doomed firemen battled their way into the building last Friday night believing workers were still trapped inside. All 150 warehouse staff have since been accounted for.

The fire was extinguished within 12 hours and on Sunday the grim task of searching for bodies started. Up to 200 people have been working through the night in a bid to find their fallen colleagues.

Mr Gunter said: "We will be keeping a close eye on developments in Warwickshire and offering every assistance that we can."

Early reports confirmed the warehouse - the size of four football pitches - did not have a fully-functioning sprinkler system.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack said: "Every member of the FBU is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident in Warwickshire.

"Deaths in the line of duty touch everyone who works in the fire service. Deaths within the fire service family are felt very deeply by everyone in the service, across the world, not only in the UK.

"Our thoughts are with the families and colleagues of those involved and with all those working within Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service."

Around 100 firefighters and five ambulance crews attended the blaze, which - in terms of loss of life - has been the worst for the fire service since 1972.

Floral tributes were placed at Alcester fire station, where two of the missing men were based, and dozens of relatives gathered outside earlier this week to pay their respects.

The youngest victim, firefighter Stephens leaves a three-month-old baby boy.