Lives are being put at risk by a chronic shortage of part-time firefighters.

Up to 14 fire engines in East Sussex are not always available to respond to emergency calls because there is not a full crew.

Assistant Divisional Officer Andrew Porter said: "The extra time it takes for a fire engine to come from another town or village may only be a couple of minutes but in a life-or-death situation, that delay could be critical."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has admitted it needs to find an extra 60 part-time firefighters and has launched an emergency recruitment drive.

The service is even courting young mums with time on their hands because their children have started school.

East Sussex relies on part-timers at 19 out of 24 fire stations to complement the 370 full time staff.

Employers reluctant to suddenly allow staff to leave work to attend an emergency call and volunteers uneasy about disrupting their family and social lives are said to be to blame for the shortage.

Union leaders are supporting the recruitment campaign, but say it will resist any attempt to use part-timers to make up full time posts.

Steve Huggins, chairman of East Sussex Fire Brigades Union said: "There is a national recruitment problem regarding retained fire fighters. We need to have a full complement to maintain full cover for the people of East Sussex."

The recruitment crisis is worse in the rural areas of East Sussex, where some stations are entirely reliant on part-timers. People living or working in Battle, Broad Oak, Burwash, Crowborough, Forest Row, Herstmonceux, Mayfield, Newhaven, Rye, Seaford and Wadhurst are being asked to consider becoming part-time firefighters.

East Sussex County Fire and Rescue say they want to hear from anyone who is between 18 and 55 who spends a fair amount of time within five minutes of their local fire station.

They should call the special recruitment line on 01323 462349.