Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas has vowed to fight the threat to Havering’s only fire rescue unit (FRU).

The specialist fire engine, which attends road crashes and equips crews to rescue people in hazardous environments, is one of two across the capital that faces the chop under new proposals from the London Fire Brigade.

“This is a real worry and has real consequences across the whole area,” Mr Cruddas told the Recorder.

“I am talking to the Fire Brigades Union about this and can ensure constituents that we will be fighting these cutbacks every step of the way.

“Without this FRU in Havering, the nearest will be in East Ham.

“We are making direct representations to the Mayor of London to halt this cut.”