WILTSHIRE and Swindon Fire Brigade's second in command has been suspended from duty.

Deputy chief fire officer Eugene Johnson, who has been in the position since 2004, was suspended last Friday.

It comes only weeks after the arrest of five other Wiltshire fire officers amid allegations of theft and racism.

Chief fire officer Andy Goves declined to comment.

In a statement, Coun Jerry Willmott, the chairman of the Wiltshire Fire Authority, said: "The authority has suspended a senior manager of the Wiltshire Fire Brigade pending the outcome of investigations into concerns of management style.

"This measure has been taken to ensure those staff involved in the investigations are appropriately protected while the inquiry is being carried out.

"The authority and the chief fire officer wish to emphasise that there will be no adverse impact on the brigade's operational ability.

"No further statement or comment will be made by the authority until the investigations have been completed."

Mr Johnson, who, it is understood, lives near Reading, was not available to comment on his suspension.

Members of the fire authority have confirmed that the suspension took place on Friday.

Mr Johnson was responsible for the suspension of three firefighters in Marlborough last October.

It is understood that his own suspension has nothing to do with these and the subsequent arrests in dawn raids on Wednesday, March 22 of the three suspended Marlborough firefighters, plus two more.

All five were released on bail until Wednesday, May 3 to enable the Crown Prosecution Service to look at files prepared by police to see if any charges should be brought.

One of the five resigned after being suspended in October.

Mr Johnson, whose wife is a paramedic in the Berkshire ambulance service, hit the national headlines last October when he removed a St George's flag sticker from the back of a fire engine in Swindon, claiming it could be regarded as racist.