Surrey’s firefighters are claiming understaffing left them short of fire engines during last weekend’s wildfires in Chobham

The Norbiton based Fire Brigades Union says up to six engines were unavailable at any one time because of a lack of crews.

Firefighters from London, Hampshire, West Sussex and Berkshire had to be brought in to aid the operation.

The FBU also says several fire engines sat idly in Surrey’s stations as there were no firefighters available to crew them.

We’ve approached Surrey Fire and Rescue for comment.

Twenty firefighters are to return to the common today to monitor it, and people are urged to avoid the area as flash floods are possible.