The threat of a firefighters' strike increased yesterday after a last-ditch attempt to overturn cuts was rejected.

East Sussex Fire Authority narrowly voted to stand by its decision to axe Hove fire station's aerial appliance and its 12-strong crew.

It means the appliance, which has two extendable booms to enable firefighters to tackle blazes in difficult places such as tall buildings or below ground level, will be based at Preston Circus.

Preston Circus's vehicle will be withdrawn because of its age - leaving no second aerial appliance as a back-up in the city.

Four of the 12 firefighters are expected to be assigned to full-time community safety positions to help drive down call-outs and improve fire prevention. The other eight will be lost through natural wastage.

Senior fire officers have said the changes will not affect response times and that the authority had a duty to match resources with risks.

But opponents believe the cuts will put lives at risk.

Yesterday's meeting came after firefighters in Brighton and Hove said they were prepared to ballot for strike action.

Union officials were today expected to meet their managers for talks before going back to their branches to decide their next move.

More than 50 union members packed brigade headquarters in Upperton Road, Eastbourne, as Councillor Brian Fitch made an appeal to keep the Hove aerial appliance.

Coun Fitch, the Labour group leader on the fire authority, said removing the appliance would cost lives.

He said: "With a multi-million pound budget, the cost of retaining the appliance, somewhere in the region of £40,000, would enable them to keep it as a reserve."

The decision not to keep the appliance drew immediate criticism from the East Sussex Fire Brigades Union.

Vice-chairman Steve Petch said: "The fire authority had an opportunity to invest in the service.

"However, they took the decision on purely monetary and political motives to cut the fire service which is essential to the people of Brighton and Hove and East Sussex."

Fire authority chairman Michael Murphy said the decision left scope for investment in other areas.

He pointed to an improved community fire service programme, funding to enhance partnerships with nine other fire authorities in the South East and investment in technology and protective clothing.

Coun Murphy said: "The fire authority is committed to delivering quality services to the public at a price they are prepared to pay.

"This requires the authority to make some difficult decisions but no one will lose their jobs as a result of the savings required and investment is still being achieved in key areas."

Plans to double members' basic allowances were rejected at the meeting and the fire authority's council tax rise was set at 4.9 per cent.

Coun Murphy said: "We have to strike a balance between services to the public and the impact on council tax payers.

"East Sussex Fire Authority is dedicated to improving the safety of people in their homes and will continue to seek more effective ways to deliver this to the communities of Brighton and Hove and East Sussex."