East Sussex fire bosses who forced the families of two fallen firefighters into a gruelling court battle were told to “hang their head in shame” after finally agreeing to pay compensation.

The announcement marks the final chapter in a painful struggle for the relatives of Geoff Wicker, 49, and Brian Wembridge, 63, who were killed by an explosion during a fireworks factory blaze at Marlie Farm in 2006.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) revealed over Christmas that it would no longer appeal against a 2013 High Court judgement ordering payouts to the families of the dead and injured colleagues.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack described news of the decision as “welcome” but added that it was a “scandal it has taken this long for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to admit its guilt and to honour the ruling of the court.

“Those responsible for these outrageous decisions should hang their heads in shame for prolonging this painful process.”

Factory owners Martin and Nathan Winter were jailed in 2009 for seven and five years respectively for manslaughter.

But ESFRS was also found guilty of failings contributing to the deaths of the men including failures of training, planning, and a communications breakdown which led to a flawed evacuation when the danger became evident.

Yet a compensation claim by the pair’s families and others injured in the explosion — backed by the FBU — stalled in the face of a bitter rearguard action by bosses’ lawyers.

In 2013 the High Court found in the firefighters’ favour but the authority appealed.

The FBU launched an online petition in August to raise awareness of the case which attracted thousands of signatures.

Mr Wrack said the union’s “tireless campaigning” had “paid off” following the latest news.

He added: “Geoff and Brian died in the line of duty serving the public.

“We have a duty to make sure their families are looked after and that justice is done.”