Oxfordshire's chief fire officer has warned people not to try to tackle fires themselves.

As the firefighters' strike entered its seventh day, John Parry said an increasing number of callers to the control room were offering to fight fires themselves.

He told the county council's executive board that although no-one had died trying to tackle a fire, he feared it was only a matter of time.

"There's an increasing willingness to help us but the message to the public if there's a fire is to dial 999, get out and stay out."

He said Oxfordshire was the third most cost-effective brigade out of 58, and had already adopted many of the modernisation practices suggested by the Government, including mixed crews of full-time and retained firefighters.

"I would like to congratulate the public on their vigilance," said Mr Parry.

"However, some members of the public are getting more involved and some are potentially investigating fires and tackling them."