FULL Monty firemen have been banned from stripping in their brigade uniform in aid of charity.

The firefighters, who are based at Peterlee, County Durham, have been forced to cancel a striptease to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami after being told they could not use their uniforms.

The show had been organised by Glen Stewart, 34, and Dom Brown, 33, both of Hartlepool, Mick Corfield, 32, and Anthony Matthias, 33, both from Peterlee, and Dave Johnson, 24, from Crook, County Durham.

But after learning of their intentions, bosses at Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service banned the five men from using their uniforms in the performance.

A spokesman for the service said: "The group were told they were not allowed to use their fire brigade uniforms for the charity night.

"Their actions did not comply with our rules on equality and diversity."

The firefighters came up with the idea of stripping to raise cash to help the relief effort after the Boxing Day disaster.

When they announced their plans, they said: "We have never done it before and probably are never going to be doing it again.

"All of us are pretty nervous and have been hitting the gym hard."

Mr Stewart had hoped to raise enough cash to go to Sri Lanka next Easter on a relief trip.