HOW disgusted I was to read about the pathetic actions of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Performance Review Team in trying to catch out any firefighters sleeping on the floor during their official rest period (The Bolton News, June 15).

These firefighters who risk their lives in order to help us, the general public, must be thoroughly demoralised by the way in which they are treated. It is bad enough, when tackling fires, to be attacked by yobs throwing bricks and bottles, having their equipment vandalised or stolen, only to return to base to find they are being spied upon by their own bosses who then have the gall to issue them with written warnings.

The senior officer on duty, Steve Wilcox, has been given a final written warning for "not policing the proper use of chairs". How pathetic is that! The only letter he should receive is a letter of commendation for having the common sense to turn a blind eye when two members of his crew, working 15 hour shifts, tried to catch some sleep by lying down on the floor.

I have never met Steve but, if I ever do, I would feel privileged to shake his hand. If anyone needs to be named and shamed, it is not the firefighters who protect us, but the faceless people of the performance review team.

Sadly, the fire service has gone the same way as the National Health Service and is now saddled with the same problem of too many chiefs.

The men and women of "The Essential Services" dedicate their lives to saving others and, as such, deserve our respect and gratitude.

They have mine by the bucket full!

Patrick J Cunningham, Kearsley