Members of London's Fire Authority voted against plans to close fire stations and cut engines last night.

Protests took place outside the meeting organised by London's Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) at their headquarters in Southwark last night.

Clapham Fire Station was originally under threat under the proposals of the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan, but was saved following the results of a public consultation.

However, the station will still lose a fire engine if the plan goes ahead.

A total of 10 stations across the capital will still be closed under the draft proposal, which outlines plans to save £28m.

During the meeting members voted 9-8 against the plans, but the Mayor of London will have the final say.

Boris Johnson is expected to consider a Mayoral Direction to go through with the cutbacks regardless of the vote.

He said: "I am disappointed that the Fire Authority has once again shirked their responsibilities to deliver a balanced budget, leaving the service in an increasingly precarious position.

"I am seeking advice so this can be rectified as quickly as possible and to provide financial and organisational stability for London’s fire service."

Ron Dobson, London fire commissioner, said: "Under my revised proposals response times in London will remain amongst the very best of any emergency service in the UK and firefighters will continue to carry out community safety work to prevent fires at the same level as they do now.

"Fire stations and fire engines do not stop fires happening -  proactive prevention work does."

Paul Embery, London secretary for the Fire Brigade Union (FBU), said: "Make no mistake, the decision to keep Clapham and New Cross stations open came about only because of the pressure of a sustained public campaign in which the FBU played a pivotal role. But that campaign doesn’t end here.

"Clapham will still lose a fire engine, and ten stations remain under threat.

"We must therefore redouble our efforts to save these stations from the axe too."