East Sussex firefighters say they have not been issued with safety equipment for rescuing people from floods.

The Fire Brigades Union said deficiencies exposed by rescue operations during the floods of October 2000 had not yet been addressed.

They said basic equipment like life jackets was in short supply for firefighters who waded chest deep in water sometimes contaminated with sewage and industrial waste.

The union's protest was rejected by East Sussex Fire Brigade, which said new equipment had been bought.

Brigade union secretary Jim Parrott said a request was made following the floods for equipment, training and safe systems of work for dealing with so-called "open water" rescues.

But he said that 14 months on, little progress had been made.

Mr Parrott said: "Firefighters are sent to attempt rescues from open water with guidance to go no further than knee-deep.

"But if the fire brigade turns up to a rescue, the public will expect a serious attempt at rescue.

"Firefighters will not stand around paddling on the fringes, they will wade in regardless of the risk.

"If East Sussex Fire Authority wishes the fire brigade to continue to provide a rescue service at floods, then give its firefighters the equipment, training and, most importantly, the systems to carry out those rescues in reasonable safety.

"If the taxpayers of East Sussex and Brighton and Hove cannot afford to provide reasonable safety, then don't bother sending us."

He said a photograph on the front of the East Sussex Fire Authority annual report had caused anger.

It showed three men at the height of the floods in a lifeboat. Two were RNLI volunteers equipped with drysuits, lifejackets and safety harnesses. But the third man was a firefighter who had no waterproofs, no safety harness and no life jacket.

Mr Parrott has written to the fire authority citing the case of Manchester firefighter Paul Metcalf, whose drowning led to Health and Safety Executive criticism of lack of equipment, training and a working system that would reduce risk.

Fire authority chairman Michael Murphy said: "We were caught out by the floods and we didn't hesitate in agreeing what needed to be done."

Des Prichard, chief fire officer for East Sussex, said: "New equipment, such as life jackets and dry suits have been bought.

"And on December 6 additional money was given to me for training and equipment."