FIREMEN yesterday demanded a change in the rules on helping obese people after ten of them were called out to move a 41-stone man just two feet across his bed.

Crews had to answer FOUR calls in one week to the home of Robert Marsden though one was cancelled.

Gordon McQuade, of the Fire Brigades Union, said: If you want us to do that type of work we need training and equipment.

The union has called a meeting next Tuesday to discuss a new approach to dealing with similar problems.

Mr McQuade added: If a doctor or other medical personnel think firefighters should help, that is fair enough. But this was not the case.

Weve got no specialist equipment it was sheer brute force. This is not a proper use of resources.

Mr Marsden, of Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, thanked the firemen for their help and said he did not know what the fuss was about.

He added: They came here and got on with their job and once they were finished they went on to their next job.