Firefighter leaders say crews in Sussex are 100 per cent behind a fresh wave of strike action.

The next will be a 24-hour walk-out on Tuesday, January 21, at 9am, leaving cover to the Royal Navy's Green Goddesses.

Leaders of the Fire Brigades Union last night decided on a further series of strikes after failing to make progress on their pay claim to give its members a basic £30,000 a year.

West Sussex Fire Brigades Union spokesman Andy Coulson said: "West Sussex firemen are behind this strike 100 per cent, especially as this Government seems to be determined to destroy the fire service.

"Obviously everyone is depressed at going out on strike again and our members are getting quite demoralised now."

Steve Huggins, chairman of the East Sussex Branch of the Fire Brigades Union said: "We are fighting for our livelihoods and the future of the fire service. The Government seems determined to put lives at risk in what has now become a political showdown."

Andy Gilchrist, national general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, met fire authority leaders on Thursday and was presented with a set of proposals which he said were non-negotiable and totally unacceptable to the union.

He claimed the proposal would lead to 4,000 firefighters' jobs being lost and 150 fire stations closed.

The Government says it is determined to stand firm in this dispute and will not give in to inflationary wage demands in the public sector.

A spokesman said: "We do not believe that a further strike will do anything to help resolve this issue."