A FAMILY'S home was far more seriously damaged than it might have been had fire service cuts not reduced local cover, a union has said.

Fire engines were sent to the blaze in Oakdene Gardens on Tuesday afternoon from Preston Circus rather than from the closer Hove station because its one engine was busy.

The station lost its second engine in April as part of efforts to save £7.1 million due to government funding cuts.

Simon Herbert, East Sussex brigade chair of the Fire Brigades Union, said it took just over ten minutes for the engines to arrive at the home rather than the four minutes it would have taken from Hove.

He added: "It is the opinion of the FBU that due to the increased travel time, the fire firefighters faced was far more severe and did far more damage than if an appliance had of been available from Hove."

Mr Herbert, who attended the fire that destroyed the home of Adam Cliff and his family, added the union had warned of this happening when cuts were first proposed, despite assurances.

He continued: "I believe that by failing to ensure there was suitable fire cover maintained at Hove, (whilst Hove were committed to another emergency) the Fire Authority and senior managers of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) have failed the local community in the area."

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but home owner Adam Cliff said firefighters had suggested the blaze could have started in the freezer.

A spokesman for ESFRS confirmed that two engines from Preston Circus had been sent to the blaze, reported at 1.51pm, as the Hove engine had been called at 1.34pm to help paramedics treating a patient collapsed in Kingsway, Hove.

A spokesman said the Preston Circus engines arrived in Oakdene Gardens within ten minutes, noting that the nature of their work means engines are not always at their fire station because they are attending emergencies.

She added that fire engines could be moved around East Sussex and the rest of Brighton to support firefighters in Hove, and support given from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's station in Shoreham.

The cut at Hove took place after consultation and analysis, she added, and thousands of properties in Mile Oak had since been given fire safety advice and help.

She added: "Any serious fire is a matter of concern to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and we are reviewing the exact circumstances of the incident to see if there are lessons to be learned."