Fire crews are warning those looking to enjoy festive celebrations to be careful as they walk out on strike twice.

As part of their ongoing dispute with the Government over pensions, members of the Fire Brigades Union will walk out tomorrow between 6pm and 10pm and Saturday between 6pm and 10pm.

Although East Sussex Fire and Rescue will continue to respond to emergencies during the strike, cover will be reduced and we will prioritise incidents where lives are in danger.

MORE:

Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Des Prichard said: “The latest strike comes at a time when many people will be relaxing, making preparations and getting into the Christmas spirit. While it’s a fun time of year, we need members of the public to remain vigilant and help us to prevent incidents so that we can direct our resources to where they are most needed.”

The service has urged people to take extra care if they are cooking the family meal or prepping the Christmas cake, never leave pans unattended and make sure the hob off is switched off when finished.

Decorations and Christmas lights can present an additional fire hazard.

Further fire safety advice for homeowners is available at esfrs.org