FIREFIGHTERS allegedly subjected to racism, sexism and bullying at work have been offered out of court cash settlements by the fire service.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attempted to block the claims but has lost.

The settlements could bring an end to years of turmoil during which time a review of the service described it as “toxic and corrosive”.

Most of the complaints concern firefighters - some of whom have since left - who worked at fire stations in the early 2000s.

One complainant from south Essex told the court he endured racism on a daily basis ranging from racist remarks to physical attacks.

Speaking to the Echo, he recounted a terrifying incident where two firefighters grabbed him in the shower and threatened to urinate on him.

At Cambridge County Court, judge Michael Yelton ruled that each case would be permitted to proceed despite being outside the three year limitation - because the complaints were not properly dealt with by the fire service at the time.

He said: “I acknowledge that there is some prejudice to the defendant however, the defendant has not tried very hard to investigate these claims fully.

“It is reasonable that the claimants did not want to put their heads above the parapet and face the possibility of losing their jobs.

"These cases do not depend wholly on what was said by X or Y but more on the fact that a culture within the fire service was allowed to exist and was not dealt with effectively by management. On consideration, these cases ought to be able to proceed.”

The judge insisted he was not making a judgement on the facts of the allegations but said in his view “these claims are not likely to fail”.

Tens of thousands of pounds are believed to have been offered to each of the claimants.

A spokesman for the service refused to comment on the settlement figures but stated: “Inappropriate behaviour is not, and has never been acceptable.

"We are committed to developing an inclusive culture, where everyone is supported to do their best, free from harm and inappropriate, unprofessional behaviour.”

Alan Bacon, head of personal injury at Southend-based law firm BTMK, said: “We were very pleased that the judge gave us the green light to go ahead with the complaints.

“We had a meeting following the hearing and all the clients have now been offered settlements by the fire service.”

The judgement and subsequent settlements follow years of controversy relating to working conditions for staff at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

In 2013, Essex police conducted a criminal investigation into historic allegations of serious criminal offences including sexual abuse but, while one firefighter was brought before the courts, no one was ever convicted.

Another firefighter was found hanged.

In 2015, Irene Lucas MBE was appointed to conduct an inquiry into the fire service which concluded it was “corrosive and toxic.”

She found there was “dangerous and pervasive bullying and intimidation” which could place employees and the communities they served “at risk”.

The report highlighted that “just about every -ism is present: sexism, racism, ageism” and identified failures from top to bottom within the organisation including a lack of management.

As a result, an “expert advisory panel” was appointed and a review carried out in 2016 found while some progress had been made, there was still more work to be done to change the dysfunctional and corrosive culture.