A SENIOR fire officer says a tragedy could happen in Sussex during the millennium celebrations.

Station Officer Doug Moody spoke out following reports that many nightclubs may not open on New Year's Eve because of high staffing costs.

He told Brighton licensing magistrates yesterday he feared parties could instead be held in unsuitable, overcrowded venues, increasing the risk of fire.

Stn Offr Moody said he did not want last year's tragedy in Gothenburg, Sweden - where 60 youngsters died in a disco blaze - ever to be repeated.

He said: "It should be a warning to all licensees and managers of the need to be vigilant in respect of safety".

The experienced fire officer has spent his 20-year career in Brighton and Hove and seen at first hand the tragedies which have resulted from blazes at some older properties.

In September Brighton police stopped a seafront rave, billed as a 40th birthday party, which was attended by 500 people.

Another party was raided by police on New Year's Eve as hundreds celebrated.

Police turned 2,000 people away from the event.

The students who organised it were prosecuted and ordered to carry out 120 hours' community service.

The fire safety expert also warned that the millennium bug in some computer software not programmed properly for the year 2000 could cause havoc with certain fire safety systems.

He said: "At best the millennium bug may only cause minor inconvenience, but at worst it could have a devastating effect on safety systems across the world."

Police leave in Sussex has been cancelled for this December 31, in line with other forces.

East Sussex Fire Brigade is writing to every business in its area to ask whether or not they have prepared themselves adequately to avoid the problems of the millennium bug.

Afree information book has also been published entitled Action 2000, telling businesses how to make sure the millennium bug does not affect them.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.