Ambulance staff could be paid extra to march at Brighton Pride – regardless of their sexuality.

Dozens of paramedics from South East Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the majority of whom are heterosexual, are being encouraged to walk along Brighton’s seafront in their uniform at this year’s Pride festival.

One source claimed the trust had offered to pay workers £40 each to take part in their own time, because it was feared not enough would volunteer for the event.

The money, which comes from the public purse, is roughly equivalent to two hours’ overtime pay.

Posters are believed to have been placed around the trust’s headquarters advertising the August 1 march with an ambulance covered in rainbow-coloured balloons and offering staff free transport to Brighton.

A member of staff told a national newspaper anonymously: “People from the trust went last year but they all attended as volunteers. I heard the turnout wasn’t very high and they wanted to get more people there.

“They’ve had to bribe people with the overtime cash because the overwhelming majority of staff are straight and not totally comfortable about giving up their free time to go on a gay march.”

The TaxPayers’ Alliance condemned the use of ambulance funds to pay overtime for the event.

Spokesman Mark Wallace said: “This is absolutely ridiculous that public money is being spent on politically correct stunts. If ambulance staff want togo to the march on their own behalf in their own time then that’s fine, but there’s no way we should pay for them to go on this march. The ambulance service is there to answer 999 calls and not for attending political events.”

But Jamie Hakim, former Pride trustee and former owner of gay magazine 3SIXTY, said Pride was not, and never had been, a political event and welcomed the fact more people were being encouraged to attend the march.

He added: “It’s great paramedics are being encouraged to attend Pride.

“Everyone joins in – whether gay, straight or whatever – and if they save someone’s life on the day then that’s £40 well spent.

“I can’t believe Pride is being described as a political movement.

It’s about the whole city celebrating diversity.”

But a spokeswoman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said paramedics would be working at the event.

She said: “As well as responding to 999 calls we are also committed to educating people on big medical issues.

“They will be working and if they are outside their normal shifts they will get paid overtime.

“Some people will be able to attend within their normal shift pattern, but those who have had to give up their free time will get paid two hours overtime.

Some people will get time off in lieu instead.

“They will also be there as a response crew. They are all fully trained paramedics, so if anything happens they will be able to treat anyone while they are there.”

As part of the ambulance service’s campaign to improve stroke survival rates, crews working at Brighton Pride will also be talking to the public about how to spot a stroke and what help to offer.

Sussex Police and West and East Sussex fire and rescue services also plan to attend the march. They were unable to reveal if their staff members were being paid extra.