Striking Sussex firefighters put a noose round the neck of a dummy of Tony Blair.

Their angry reaction was prompted by the Prime Minister's warning that the Government would not be bullied into meeting their pay demands.

Yesterday, Mr Blair said he would not tolerate a return to the industrial militancy of the Eighties and told trade unions they would not win.

He said: "Those days are over. They are not coming back - not under this government, not under any government."

Frustrated firefighters manning the picket line at Worthing fire station constructed the dummy.

The creation, complete with a sign saying "Two Faced", was displayed outside their base in Ardsheal Road, Broadwater.

Red watch commander Joe Bird, 47, from Bosham, said: "We feel very annoyed with the Government's handling of the situation. Mr Blair is a hypocrite.

"He would be very happy to give himself a 40 per cent pay rise but he doesn't think we are worth it. Despite what was said, we will not be persuaded to give up our strike."

East Sussex Fire Brigade Union's vice-chair Steve Petch said: "Everybody is very angry. They see it as a personal attack by the Prime Minister and it has only served to strengthen our resolve."

Mr Blair ruled out a 40 per cent pay increase and said the Government could not authorise a 16 per cent pay deal unless it was in line with modernisation.

Green Goddesses have been called out 77 times in Sussex since Friday.