A man tried to sneak a lift on the back of a fire engine, then punched and kicked two firefighters who told him to get off.

Mark Pittock spotted the man climbing on the ladder unit at Castle Square as he drove it back to Preston Circus fire station, Brighton, at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Mr Pittock, of Green Watch, said: "We stopped to find him holding on at the back, ready to go. We pulled him off and he started throwing punches and kicking us. He was quite violent."

Mr Pittock and his colleague wrestled the man to the ground and held on to him until the police arrived.

He said: "We had his own safety in mind. It is so dangerous because drivers cannot see people holding on at the back. Someone could easily be killed especially if we had to respond to an emergency call."

Mr Pittock said it was not the first time someone had tried to take a sneaky ride on his fire engine.

A few months ago he chased a youth down Western Road after spotting him trying to climb on to the back.

He said: "They think it is a thrill but it is terrible for the driver because they would feel responsible if anyone was hurt or killed.

"Attacks like this on us are rare in Sussex but are more common in the North. I believe some firefighters there wear anti-stab jackets. I hope it does not have to come to that here."