Green Goddesses were being put through their paces at the weekend in readiness for tomorrow's firefighters' strike.

Royal Navy crews tried out the ageing vehicles along Madeira Drive in Brighton.

About 16 Green Goddesses are expected to be on call across Sussex for 24 hours from 9am.

During the last eight-day strike at the end of last year, they were called out to 164 incidents in the county.

Firefighters are fighting for a basic salary of £30,000.

The Fire Brigades Union maintains 4,500 jobs will be axed and 150 fire stations closed if Government recommendations on modernisation are accepted.

Two further strikes, each lasting 48 hours, are planned for January 28 and February 1.

Union sources said although the next strike seemed "inevitable" it was possible negotiations between the two sides would resume later this week.