Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has landed in legal hot water after a tribunal found it had discriminated against a white man in a recruitment drive.

Part-time firefighter Roger Brookes, 37, claimed the fire service discriminated against him in favour of ethnic minority and female candidates in 2000.

The tribunal heard that the fire service wrote to Brookes saying he would be offered a full-time deal after he had successfully passed a series of tests.

But the tribunal found that its personnel department discriminated in favour of ethnic minorities and women at a later stage.

The service then wrote to Brookes asking if he would consider going on to a prolonged waiting list, then wrote again saying he had been deselected.

Brookes received an undisclosed pay-off and there are now concerns that further claims could arise.

A spokesman said: “The fire authority changed its procedures after the 2000 recruitment campaign. This was before Mr Brookes proceeded with his case.”