There are to be more firefighters employed in West Sussex despite cutbacks in other authorities.

Research by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has been used to accuse councils and fire authorities of planning to axe 378 jobs.

The figures follow the publishing of fire brigades' integrated risk management plans, which set out how fire services are to be run for the following year.

West Sussex is one of the few making small staff increases, alongside Avon and Buckinghamshire.

Many fire brigades are making cutbacks to cover the pay rises established in the FBU's recent industrial action, which saw firefighters joining picket lines last year.

The union said at least 19 fire engines and 22 special appliances, like those with high-reach ladders, would also be put out of service.

The biggest cuts were expected in the West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said there was now a "postcode lottery" of rescue cover.

He said: "Some councils are clearly flagging up their intention to slash the country's frontline rescue service.

"The Government has put almost no new money into safety initiatives such as fitting smoke alarms but relies on budgets it has already set.

"It is dangerously naive to rely on smoke alarms as many people take the batteries out or don't replace them.

"They do not stop the need for the fire service to attend and rescue people when alarms go off. Stripping the frontline service away to fit smoke alarms ignores the fact we still need to turn out quickly when the alarm goes off."

Mr Gilchrist said response times to automatic fire alarms were being cut.

Derek Telling, West Sussex Fire Brigade chairman, said the county's service had already been "stripped to the bone" and there was no room for cuts.