A charity football tournament will kick off in memory of the two firefighters killed in the Shortgate fireworks factory disaster.

Dozens of youngsters from across East Sussex will take part in the day-long tournament at Withdean stadium, current home of Brighton and Hove Albion.

The tournament has been organised in honour of Geoff Wicker and Brian Wembridge, two members of the fire service who died in the blaze at the Festival Fireworks depot near Ringmer in December.

Every fire station in East Sussex will enter a team of ten made up of eight or nine-year-olds.

The winning team will be presented with a new trophy, the Wembridge- Wicker Memorial Cup, by East Sussex chief fire officer Des Prichard and members of the bereaved families.

The tournament will be followed by a match between an Albion old boys' team and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

The veteran Seagulls team is to include current first team manager Dean Wilkins alongside former players such as Ian Chapman, Russell Bromage, John Keeley, John Byrne and Paul Rogers.

Firefighter Dave Amiet, who is also a qualified football coach, has organised the tournament.

He has been working on a joint initiative for the past year with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, the Albion and Sussex County Football Association to bring fire and road safety messages to young children in the county through football.

The team takes youngsters through a series of footballing skills, each with an important fire and road safety message.

The children's football tournament on April 29 starts at 9.30am, with the charity match kicking off at 4pm. Entry to both events is via a donation on the gate.