It was a week in which the public came out in their droves to demonstrate their opposition - and which showed the pressure our brilliant firefighters are under.

So today, The Journal is launching a vital campaign to preserve our area's much-needed fire stations.

Suffolk County Council has proposed closing Wrentham fire station and removing an on-call fire engine from Lowestoft South, reducing the town's number of fire engines from four to three.

Chief fire officer Mark Hardingham, who has been told he must save £1.3million from the service's £22million budget by 2017, believes that leaves the area with adequate fire cover.

But residents at two public meetings in the last week strongly disagreed, with many arguing: 'Cuts cost lives.'

And the Fire Brigades Union said a major warehouse blaze this week, along with two fires in quick succession on Saturday, demonstrated how important proper fire cover is.

Journal editor Andrew Papworth said: 'The loss of fire stations is a step too far, and that's why The Journal's SOS – Save Our Stations - starts today.

'Join our fight.'

See special report in today's Journal.