A funeral with full honours is expected to take place next week for a firefighter killed in a warehouse explosion .

Brian Wembridge, 63, was killed on December 3 at the Festival Fireworks blast at Shortgate, near Ringmer, in which firefighter Geoffrey Wicker, 49, also died.

Mr Wembridge had retired from active service but his family's request for a full brigade funeral has been granted.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue chief fire officer Des Prichard said: "We are here to support the families at this time. We will do whatever they want to support them.

"We have been contacted by fire services across the country to co-operate in these services. We must remember it is the family's funeral.

"The families are coming together with great resolve. They say we all need to move forward together. They will wish to celebrate Christmas because that is part of the grieving process."

Mr Prichard was addressing members of the fire authority who observed a minute's silence during their meeting in Eastbourne yesterday.

Firefighters removed acetylene cylinders from the factory over the weekend but Mr Prichard said the brigade's involvement was now limited.

He said: "There will be no further comment to make because it is a police investigation. The two fatalities will be investigated by the police. If necessary a report will go to the Crown Prosecution Service.

"The Health and Safety Executive is closely involved in the investigation because it was a licensed site for the storage of explosives in the form of fireworks. It is still a closed scene and no one is allowed on. We will be appraising that situation later this week."

The incident has left the brigade several officers short - a further nine fire officers were injured.

Many staff are struggling with the shock of the tragedy and the service has lost a number of vehicles and equipment which were damaged by the explosion.

Mr Prichard said they had been offered personnel from London, Merseyside and West Sussex and other help from Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Kent He said: "We must keep the business running. We had a significant fire on Sunday in Hove. We need to continue our statutory business. We are a fire and rescue service."

Police conducted a 500 metre search around the site for unexploded fireworks and an assortment of small explosives over the weekend and found more than 30.

Residents and businesses nearby have been told not to touch any fireworks they may find but to contact police immediately so they can be made safe.

The road is still closed and emergency vehicles damaged by the blast remain at the site awaiting examination.

A spokesman said: "We are working as quickly as possible to remove obstructions from the road in a view to narrow that cordon and reduce disruption especially for residents and nearby businesses."

Members of the public have come out in force to show their support and sympathy, contributing to the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Memorial Fund and signing books of condolences, which are available at all East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service stations and at County Hall, Lewes.

Mike Murphy, the fire authority's chairman, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the messages of kindness, support and empathy we are receiving from all over the UK and overseas in relation to the tragic events of December 3, when two personnel lost their lives and many others were injured, including a police officer."

The inquests into the deaths will be opened at Eastbourne tomorrow.

  • To sign our online book of condolence dedicated to the two men who died in the fire, click here