THE head of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has been suspended.

Chief Fire Officer David Johnson returned from about ten months sick leave this week and was immediately ordered to leave the Kelvedon Park Headquarters.

Essex Fire Authority Chairman Tony Hedley said: "Chief Fire Officer David Johnson has been suspended pending an internal investigation.

"At this stage, I can offer no further comment to allow due process to take place.

"It should be remembered suspension is a neutral act."

Mr Johnson was off work for several months and returned before taking a second period of sick leave around June last year.

An appeal is expected to be launched due to a dispute over whether the suspension is legal.

Alan Chinn-Shaw, secretary for the Essex branch of the Fire Brigades’ Union, said: “As we understand it he has been fit for duty for six weeks and has been keen to get into the work place for that long.

“He has been on ‘special leave’ which was requested by the fire authority.

“He gave notice of his intention to return to duty because he has not been furnished with exact reasons for the special leave.

“He returned so they suspended him for attempting to return to duty while on special leave.”

The suspension began yesterday.

See the full story in the next edition of the paper.