Sussex firefighters have called wildcat strikes, saying they have been let down at the last minute in a pay dispute.

Crews at five of East Sussex's six full-time fire stations last night joined colleagues across Britain in staging unofficial industrial action.

Staff at Preston Circus, Hove, Roedean and two fire stations in Hastings, in Bohemia Road and The Ridge, were answering 999 calls only.

They were unhappy after managers decided a wage agreement, reached after official strikes ended earlier this year, should be paid in two stages.

The 999-only decision means firefighters have been refusing to take part in training, go on community safety visits or check hydrants.

Strikes spread yesterday after it emerged the second stage of a 16 per cent wage rise would be paid in two parts - 3.5 per cent on Friday and another 3.5 per cent in the New Year.

Local authority leaders have insisted the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) knew external verification would be needed before the seven per cent could be paid in full.

But firefighters said they were expecting the full amount to be paid this week.

A Red Watch firefighter at Preston Circus station in Brighton said: "We're ensuring the public remains in complete safety. We're still there and available to turn out to emergency calls.

"But we felt we had to do something to show how unhappy people feel about the current situation. Decisions are being made watch by watch.

"The employers have the money there, sitting in their bank accounts. They can't put the blame on the Government not paying them. The ball is 100 per cent in their court this time.

"We've done everything asked of us since an agreement was reached last time but now we've been let down at the 11th hour.

"I'm sure the employers wouldn't be very happy if it was us giving them money and we were the ones holding back.

"It's been a difficult year anyway and now this has caused a lot of upset and frustration across the board. Hopefully, this will only be a temporary halt."

A firefighter at Hove station said: "This is a show of disappointment at the paperwork we've just received.

"It's all pretty unanimous. We can only hope this gets resolved quickly but we all feel we're not being helped by anyone."

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the Chief Officer Des Prichard was aiming to arrange an emergency meeting of the fire authority as soon as possible.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist is expected to hold talks with employers' leaders today ahead of a meeting of the FBU executive tomorrow to decide the union's next move.

John Ransford, one of the employers' chief negotiators, said: "It is absolutely clear that the seven per cent cannot be paid until verification from the Audit Commission, which is expected to happen in the New Year."