MEDICS who are providing voluntary first aid at the Nothe spectator site are not wearing their uniforms because of branding issues, it is claimed.

And a Weymouth man, who was working at the site, said he was asked to leave when he was heard being openly critical of the ban.

Martin Brooks, of Derby Street, was employed to keep the ticketed area free from litter.

He said: “I was talking to a lady from the Red Cross, who said LOCOG have made them cover up the emblem on their uniforms.

“I said, quite loudly, it was ridiculous. When I returned from my break, I was asked to leave and not come back.”

The Red Cross, whose volunteers are working at the site, confirmed staff were not wearing their usual uniforms.

Graham Kerridge, senior service manager at the charity, said: “The pride and passion of Red Cross volunteers is second to none, and we know that they will always want to be identified as Red Cross first aiders first and foremost. In this instance, we have been asked not to identify which organisation our people are from, something we have happily agreed to in the interests of providing highly trained volunteers whenever and wherever they might be needed – as have other organisations with similar first aid expertise. All first aiders at the Nothe Spectator Site will be clearly designated”

The Red Cross and St John Ambulance have drafted in volunteers from across the country to provide first aid and assistance to people during the Games.

Ambulance posts are stationed around the town, manned by staff from both organisations, who are wearing their usual uniforms and emblems.

First-aiders in the ticketed Nothe Fort site are provided solely by the Red Cross.

Mr Brooks said: “It is a joke that they are not allowed to wear their emblem. How are people supposed to know they are medics?

“I had only started working there that morning, when I had that conversation. It was only around 15 minutes later that I was asked to leave, with no explanation.

“They did not explain the rules. I have not done anything wrong.”

Mr Brooks’s friend Paul Gavigam, said: “It is disgusting. Who are the Red Cross supposed to be competing with?”

A spokeswoman for LOCOG declined to comment further.

  • A SPOKESWOMAN for Richards Events, a sub-contractor for the Nothe spectator site, said: “A member of temporary staff was escorted from site on Thursday due to a disciplinary matter. The matter discussed with the member of staff was due to them not fulfilling their duties to the standard required. We deemed it inappropriate for them to continue working at the site, as they were not complying with company procedures.”