EXCLUSIVE: WILTSHIRE'S deputy fire chief Eugene Johnson has been suspended over concerns about his management style.

The 50-year-old, who has been second in command of the county's brigade for two years and based at the service's headquarters at Potterne, near Devizes, was suspended on Friday.

Mr Johnson has started his own grievance procedure against Wiltshire's chief fire officer Andy Goves. Mr Goves would not comment on the suspension of his deputy.

Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority chairman Jerry Willmott 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.'' Mr Johnson, who lives near Reading, was not available to comment on his suspension.

The Gazette understands the inquiry into Mr Johnson has nothing to do with the suspension of three Marlborough firefighters last October and the arrests in March of five Marlborough firefighters.

The firefighters were arrested in a police swoop on their homes at 7am.

Former Marlborough Fire Station commander David Ward was arrested together with Leading Firefighter Alan Eyles, and Firefighters Justin Kimber and Graham Loney and probationer firefighter Tom Warren.

They were all taken to Swindon Police Station and spent the day in custody being interviewed in connection with allegations of theft, racism, handling stolen goods and perverting the course of justice.

All five were released on bail until May 3. The Crown Prosecution Service is now examining the case.

The allegations under investigation relate to the removal of items including a Belfast sink, flip-chart boards, a hosereel and a piece of wood from a redundant building Savernake Hospital during a fire brigade exercise.

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

Mr Johnson was appointed as deputy chief fire officer in July, 2004 after a period of taking on the duty in an acting role.

He had previously been assistant chief fire officer.