East Sussex Fire Brigade is to receive £2.5 million in flood insurance but the amount will not meet all of the brigade's losses from last winter's disaster.

A report said the service was facing "considerable uninsured losses" and a full account would be reported to the fire authority in December.

The report listed the damage, which included three water tenders and one support unit written off; nine brigade cars and vans written off and extensive damage to Uckfield and Lewes fire stations, Lewes vehicle and breathing apparatus workshops, brigade stores and two brigade houses in Lewes.

Many vehicles have since been replaced and buildings have been repaired.

The report said the amount of equipment lost and damaged was "too extensive to list".

It said: "There will be continuing financial implications in replacing some of this equipment, which is necessary for the effective operation of the brigade."

The report's author, retiring chief Alan McCormack, said it was estimated the total insurance payment would be in the region of £2.5 million.

He added: "The authority is facing considerable uninsured losses. However, due to the managerial decisions already made, the impact of these has been considerably reduced."

The decisions included use of a reserve support unit rather than replacing the one written off and the replacement of three water tenders and nine light vehicles through operational and contract leasing.

Mr McCormack said this had saved the authority from an immediate budget commitment of £500,000, to be funded during a number of years.

He said: "However, there are still significant losses that it is not possible to contain in this manner.

"These arise out of the loss of equipment. Efforts are being made to contain these."

A brigade working party is preparing a report on the brigade's flood response capability for the future.