Navy servicemen were called into action just one minute after firefighters began another 48-hour strike today.

Naval staff manning Sussex fire engines were called out to a kitchen fire at 9.01am this morning, just as the country's firefighters mounted picket lines in their latest bout of industrial action.

The naval staff took two 'red goddesses', Sussex Fire Service's own machines, to the small fire at a flat in Church Road, Hove.

The crews dealt with the fire by 9.18am. No-one was injured in the blaze.

Meanwhile, an unconscious man with a broken leg was taken to safety by Royal Navy firefighters during a blaze in a block of flats in Fishersgate, West Sussex.

He came round outside and was taken to hospital by ambulance after the fire.

Six people were evacuated from Whyke Court, St Aubyn's Road, after thick smoke was reported coming from the ground floor flat.

Two red godesses and a breathing apparatus team were called to the fire which was put within 30 minutes.

There have been 13 days of strikes since the dispute started last year and some officials of the Fire Brigades Union have warned that some industrial action could continue for months unless there was a breakthrough.

The two sides are holding separate meetings on Monday and the employers have said that peace talks could resume within days as long as the executive of the FBU does not call any more strikes.