COLCHESTER MP Will Quince has called for answers after the county's top fire officer was sacked.

Chief fire officer David Johnson was dismissed yesterday with immediate effect by Essex Fire Authority bosses.

It followed two-year misconduct investigation which is thought to have cost Essex taxpayers £1 million.

The authority and the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have consistently refused to reveal the circumstances of the investigation, but Mr Johnson is known to have faced ten counts of alleged misconduct or gross misconduct.

A previous, and confidential, Essex Fire Authority report showed no evidence had been found.

Last night the Tory MP for answers.

Mr Quince said: "The public will quite rightly believe there are questions which need to be answered.

"This has cost a significant amount of public money and it is absolutely right and proper that the public should know what happened and have assurances it will not happen again.

"This has cost a significant amount of public money and raises a number of potential governance issues."

Gazette: Will Quince, who has been selected by the Conservatives to fight for the Colchester seat at the next General Election

Anthony Hedley, chairman of the Essex Fire Authority, said yesterday: “With immediate effect, David Johnson has been dismissed as Chief Fire Officer for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

"This dismissal follows a robust process in compliance with the law in relation to statutory officers.”

Mr Johnson’s sacking comes seven months after Acting Chief Fire Office Adam Eckley told the Gazette a decision on Mr Johnson’s fate was “imminent”.

Mr Johnson was initially granted sick leave in June 2014 after earning about £225,000 for three months’ work. In April 2015 he tried to return but was instantly suspended.

Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex branch secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, condemned the entire process and believes the fire service has a long way to go to win back the public’s trust. He said: “I think it shows a real contempt for the public they would spend that much of the taxpayers money on this.

He said: “It’s shocking that it was allowed to carry on for so long and cost so much money.

“This is at a time when resources are being cut left, right and centre and we should be spending money wisely.

“If you lose the trust and confidence of the public, it takes a lot to get it back.

"They’ve really tarnished their reputation with the way this has been handled.

“If they can treat the chief fire officer like that, it doesn’t bode well with how they can treat firefighters.”