As a serving firefighter, I feel I had to write regarding East Sussex fire brigade sending its turntable ladder to Brighton town hall to help put up a banner promoting gay weddings in Brighton (The Argus, July 9).

What a misuse of equipment. If the crew got an order via the radio when the turntable ladder was fully extended, the ladder would have taken a number of minutes to be rehoused, hence it's off the run.

The three purposes of the fire service are: 1) To save life; 2) To save property; 3) To render humanitarian services. It is not there for the town hall to ring up to do odd jobs.

So remember, folks, if you need your roof aerials fixed or football flags put on your roof then just ring East Sussex fire brigade and we'll all pretend it's a training exercise.

Somehow I know what the answer would be.

-Dean Docherty, Peacehaven