Five Sussex policemen who helped plan a bungled operation in which a naked man was shot dead are suing the force for £50,000 each.

The five were part of a team of officers who helped to co-ordinate a drugs raid at the bedsit home of James Ashley in Hastings in 1998.

Intelligence reports at the time had suggested Mr Ashley, a 39-year-old father-of-two, might have been armed.

He was not but as he lurched from his bed he was gunned down.

The five officers were suspended in the aftermath of the shooting.

They remained off work for more than three years as criminal proceedings progressed. All charges were eventually withdrawn.

The officers - a superintendent, two inspectors and two PCs - are being supported in their claim by the Sussex branch of the Police Federation, which repeatedly criticised the length of time they remained suspended, saying it caused untold mental anguish and stress.

Branch spokesman Graham Alexander said: "We have continually been critical of the issues surrounding the suspensions and we are giving the officers our full support."

News of the compensation claim has outraged Mr Ashley's family in Liverpool.

His sister Pauline said: "Our family has not received a penny for the loss of my brother. At the end of the day, Jimmy is 6ft under and it's the fault of Sussex Police.

"The officers should be ashamed of themselves and I hope they win nothing."

The writs, which have been formally lodged with the High Court, accuse Sussex Police of abuse of public office, negligence and breach of duty.

The then chief constable, Paul Whitehouse, and deputy Mark Jordan resigned in the wake of Mr Ashley's death.

PC Chris Sherwood, the officer who pulled the trigger, was cleared of unlawful killing by the Old Bailey in 2001.

The judge accepted he had acted in what he thought was self-defence.

PC Robert Shoesmith was cleared of misconduct at the same court.

He and four others - Superintendent Chris Burton, inspectors Kevin French and Christopher Siggs and PC Stephen Crocker - are suing for the way they were treated during their suspensions and on their return to work.

Only Mr Crocker and Mr Shoesmith are still serving.

The force could fight the writs or settle out of court. No date has been set for a hearing.