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The salary of Avon Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer is to be reduced by 22%, it has been announced.

Kevin Pearson's salary will be cut to £130,097 starting from 1 April - a reduction of £37,000 a year.

Avon Fire Authority said the service was seeking to make £2.6m of savings in 2011/12.

Mr Pearson said: "Avon Fire Authority has taken this decision so that we can continue to provide a first class emergency service to the public."

"I promised to start at the top and that was not rhetoric," Mr Pearson said.

"I meant what I said - the savings that will arise from this decision will protect jobs in the longer term."

Authority members also approved proposals to reduce the salaries of future appointments to the service management board by up to 22%.

In December, Mr Pearson said Avon Fire and Rescue Service had been "unfairly penalised" by the government after its budget was cut by £2.3m - about 9%.

A service spokesman said another £300,000 of savings were needed to allow for inflation.

Firefighters working for the service could be asked to go part time, in order to save money on salaries.

The service's two main sources of income are a government grant and the money it receives from the council tax.