Firefighters across Sussex were joining a national demonstration today to demand a pay increase of more than £8,000.

Thirty firefighters and officers from Eastbourne were joining 200 colleagues from Hastings, Brighton and Hove, Worthing, Burgess Hill and the rest of Sussex for the rally in Bloomsbury, central London, and demonstration in Trafalgar Square.

Leading Firefighter Selwyn Lippiatt, based in Eastbourne, said: "It's going to be a peaceful day. We just want to draw people's attention to our plight."

Firefighters were expected to gather under banners identifying their stations for the protest.

Members of the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) have demanded an increase in basic pay from £21,531 to £30,000.

The pay formula was last updated in 1977, after the FBU's only national strike.

Members said they hoped to avoid taking industrial action.

Part-time or retained firefighters were also hoping for an increase in their wages to bring them in line with full-time colleagues.

FBU southern regional secretary Dave Keating said: "The fire service is constantly being praised for the professional service we provide to the public. It is now time to stop praising and start paying us a fair living wage."

One watch for each station was left to work their normal shifts while their colleagues joined the rally.