A claim that Colchester was left without fire cover for half an hour has been strongly denied.

Firefighters at Colchester fire station claimed there were no engines based in the town between 11am and 11.30am on Wednesday.

One engine and its crew had to go for vital training and because of annual leave there was not enough manpower for the other engine based at Colchester fire station.

Colchester-based firefighter John Crust, Essex Fire Brigade Union's health and safety representative, said: "It is scandalous. They have got to increase the number of personnel available and give the people of Essex the fire cover they deserve."

He explained there had been a gap of 30 minutes while staff waited for stand-by firefighters to arrive from other stations.

In fact no emergencies happened, but Mr Crust said that risk should not have been taken.

After last year's strike manpower was increased to levels as agreed by the union and Essex Fire Authority.

But Mr Crust argued the number of operational firefighters available for duty had been affected because more were doing office-based or training roles.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has refuted the claims, saying an engine from Dovercourt was in the area covered by Colchester firefighters, though not at the station, and available for emergencies.

Assistant Divisional Officer Dave Warren, based at Essex Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters, said: "This was a very rare occurrence. It was a local problem and as soon as control realised they sent an appliance from Dovercourt to cover.

"But the appliance was turned back because the two men on stand-by arrived there before it."

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