Union leaders say a shortage of retained firefighters is leaving huge gaps in emergency cover in parts of Sussex.

A recruitment crisis means 36 per cent of emergency cover in East Sussex is often not available.

A recent survey of day-to-day availability found up to 14 frontline vehicles in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove were often out of action because of the shortage.

Union spokesman Steve Petch said one-vehicle stations, such as Seaford, Burwash, Forest Row, Heathfield, Mayfield, Pevensey and Wadhurst were often unable to respond to emergencies because fire engines could not be crewed.

The second retained crew at two-vehicle stations, such as The Ridge, Hastings, were also often unavailable due to the shortages.

He urged fire chiefs to publish the numbers available for duty.

Mr Petch said: "We would like the fire authority to use the figures available to assess the effect the shortage is having on communities in East Sussex and use the information for a sustained recruitment drive."

Night-time cover is usually less of a problem but fire chiefs are facing problems finding enough retained firefighters during the day.

Changing work patterns mean there is no longer a pool of local people employed nearby, the traditional main source of retained crews.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire Brigade said vehicles had to be taken off readiness at times because of shortages but insisted this did not affect emergency cover anywhere in East Sussex.

She said: "At the end of the day our concern is 'can we get a fire engine if there is an emergency' and the answer has been 'yes'."