A row over the use of a specialised fire vehicle during today's strike was averted when two similar trucks needed repairs last night.

East Sussex Fire Brigade was ready to release its spare turntable ladder to the Royal Navy to help deal with high building fires in the latest 48-hour industrial action.

The move angered the Fire Brigades Union, which claimed naval officers and ratings would not have as much experience at handling the vehicle.

However, yesterday evening, the brigade's other turntable ladders at Preston Circus in Brighton and Hastings were both found to need repairs.

Chief Fire Officer Des Prichard said the spare vehicle was then called back and is now sitting at Hastings fire station where, as across the country, FBU members walked out at 9am today.

Mr Prichard said: "Some weeks ago we were asked if we could spare any fire appliances to give to the military.

"We have five spare appliances and said we were prepared to release three.

"They said they wanted them released to a camp in Leicestershire where they could be distributed elsewhere. We weren't happy about that and said they could only use them in East Sussex.

"Similarly, the Ministry of Defence asked, because there were high-rise buildings unprotected, if we had any spare aerial appliances.

"We were not prepared to send ours to Leicestershire but some days ago we gave the military our spare aerial appliance and they have been training on it with the intention of using it on strike days.

"It was always our intention if we needed it, we could call it back.

"Strangely enough, two of our aerial appliances went off the run with technical difficulties yesterday and we took it back off the military. It went on the run in Hastings.

"At no time have taxpayers or the fire brigade lost one of their fire engines."

In previous strikes, naval personnel used antiquated Green Goddesses to provide back-up.

FBU spokesman Gary Smith said union members were upset the brigade was prepared to release the turntable ladder at all.

He said: "This is a complicated piece of equipment and the Navy has no experience with vehicles of this type. We are worried for their competence if they come to use it.

"It is like the brigade taking charge of HMS Ark Royal."

"We have a week of initial training on the turntable ladder and months of on-going training to keep competent.

"We are seriously concerned and ask what will they take next. Spare appliances? Spare equipment?"

This is the 12th day of strike action in the past few months by the FBU, which is seeking a 40 per cent pay rise, increasing firefighters' salaries to £30,000. It rejected an offer of 11 per cent over two years.