DORSET Fire and Rescue Service has an anxious three-week wait to find out if the government's provisional funding cut becomes a reality and lives are put at risk countywide.

The pay settlement - one of the lowest in the country - was announced in the Christmas run-up and met with derision from fire bosses, MPs and residents, who all fear station closures could follow.

As it stands, Dorset will receive a below inflation 2.5 per cent increase over the next three years, just a third of the rise compared to the average UK fire authority area. This means by 2010/11 it will have to make savings of £600,000 from its £26m budget.

As the deadline to lobby for an improved payout passed, County fire chief Darran Gunter said: "We have done all we can to lobby against this settlement. However, if it remains, within six to 12 months officers and members will undertake a comprehensive expenditure review of the service to examine options for finding savings of this order.

"It is possible that ultimately those options could include reductions in front line services."

The loss of frontline services - which may mean fewer engines and station closures - could spell potential disaster for isolated Dorset communities, it is claimed.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood, said: "We should be under no illusion that fire stations in Dorset are under threat and may have to be closed in order to meet the cuts imposed by government.

"I will be asking the local government minister responsible for fire and rescue services to reconsider Dorset's funding settlement.

"Poor funding settlements in the past have now forced Dorset to become predominantly a part-time service. This cannot continue without impacting on performance."