Brigade image change under fire

The brigade says much of its work is rescues for people and animals

A fire brigade has been accused by its union of wasting money in adopting a new name and logo.

East Sussex Fire Brigade will be known from Thursday as the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and is also introducing a new logo.

The Chief Fire Officer for East Sussex said the new name reflects the fact that much of their work is taken up with rescues - from vehicles, at sea and of animals.

But the move has already been attacked by the local branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

Title 'inappropriate'

The union says the new title is inappropriate because the fire brigade is not sufficiently qualified to be known as a rescue service.

It also claims the money spent on the image change could have been better spent elsewhere.

But East Sussex is not the only brigade to want to change its title.

Kent Fire Brigade is also considering adopting a new name to show that firefighting is only part of the job for crews.