Firefighters across the county have been forced to hand over their boots amid a safety scare.

Firefighters at all 51 of Essex's fire stations have been told to return their leather boots to Essex Fire Service after a dangerous fault was found in several pairs.

A senior fire officer said the soles on "about six or seven" of the leather fireman's boots had come off due to faulty stitching, causing the fire service to recall every pair for a health and safety investigation.

Bob Fossett, Senior Divisional Officer at Essex Fire Service, said: "We had a couple of pairs of boots which are de-laminated and the stitching is coming away.

"Because they are de-laminating the soles may come away and cause a trip incident, firefighters work in a very dangerous field and I don't want anything to increase that danger so we recalled the boots."

Firefighters will have to resort to their trusty rubber boots which are usually used on call-outs where dangerous chemicals are present.

Mr Fossett said: "We are saying don't wear the leather boots wear the rubber boots, this message has gone out to all 51 stations in the county and we want them to adhere to it until a health and safety inquiry has closed, then it will be back to leather boots."

A firefighter, who did not wish to be named, said the rubber boots could melt in particularly intense heat.

But Mr Fossett denied this and said the rubber boots are just as good as the leather ones.

He said: "We always had rubber boots which comply to British standards. They have metal toe plates and ankle protection and are not just your average rubber boot off the shelf.

"There is not a lot of difference between the leather and rubber boots but firefighters find the leather boots more comfortable."

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001