Camden Council has joined forces with colleagues across London to fight the Mayor of London’s planned fire service cuts in the courts.

The council has taken the first step in calling for a legal review alongside Islington, Hackney, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

The seven councils made an application for permission to apply for a judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Camden faces losing Belsize fire station in Lancaster Grove, Belsize Park, one of 10 earmarked for closure across the capital, while response times will be hit across the borough.

The court action comes after the councils were advised by lawyers that they had a case. They have been considering taking this step since August.

Cllr Abdul Hai, Camden Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “We remain of the opinion that the decision [to close the station] is flawed and doesn’t take into account the unique nature of Camden.”

He added: “We have been advised that there are grounds for us to appeal.

“It’s important to stick up for the people of Camden and their safety.”

The planned cutbacks are part of a £28.8million savings drive that would also see 14 engines and 552 firefighters axed.

No other borough will see as many large increases in average waits for a fire engine, of a minute or more, according to estimates published by the London Fire Brigade in May.