Firefighters are taking to the streets to quiz the public about a proposal to merge emergency service control rooms.

The idea is being fiercely resisted by the Fire Brigades Union, which has warned that jobs and lives could be at risk.

East Sussex firefighters will be out testing public opinion on the streets of Brighton, Hastings, Eastbourne, Uckfield and Wadhurst, between 10am and 2pm this Saturday and the brigade is urging people to voice their views.

A report by the Home Office recommends more than halving the number of control rooms in England and Wales from 49 to 21.

Fire control rooms in East and West Sussex could merge, possibly with Surrey, and the Fire Brigades Union fears more than 60 jobs could be lost.

Union spokesman Ian Smith said lives could also be at risk.

He said: "Emergency fire control personnel are highly-trained, skilled operators and are the first people to deal with an incident.

"They receive 999 calls, extract information on the fire location from distressed callers and then deploy the necessary appliances.

"Without their expertise, many lives would be lost."

Mr Smith said fire, police and ambulance control rooms currently had their own group of workers with specialist knowledge specific to each emergency service.

He said: "Merging them would not only diminish the skills base of all operators, but, more importantly, would diminish the standard of service we provide to the communities we serve."

East Sussex fire chief Alan McCormack said no one liked change and there were similar fears expressed when smaller control rooms, including those in Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne, were merged into one in 1974. But there was no evidence of poorer performance or service to the public afterwards.

The East Sussex brigade control room has had to move from offices in Lewes because of recent flooding and currently operates from Hove fire station.

Brigade spokesman David Izod said with the control room in temporary accommodation "the relevance of our fact-finding exercise could not have been better timed.

"The opinion of the public is a vital part of this process and we are encouraging people to give their views."

Results of the survey will be put before the East Sussex Fire Authority on December 7.