The Fires Brigade Union, Tower Hamlets firefighters, comedian Mark Thomas and other performers showed their support for a suspended former Shadwell station manager on Wednesday night.

Sian Griffiths, 50, was suspended just two days after being awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal last November over allegations made against her during an industrial dispute with the London Fire Brigade.

Colleagues gathered at the Standard Music Venue in Walthamstow to back her bid to be reinstated and also raised �4,500 for the union’s hardship fund.

Ms Griffiths, also a former Millwall station manager, said: “It was a really great night and Mark was fantastic.

“I hope I’ll be able to return to work soon.

“I’m waiting to see if there’s going to be a hearing or not.”

Entertainment was also provided by Poplar watch manager Steve White and his band The Protest Family and Ian Saville, the “socialist magician”.

Ms Griffiths has been accused of harassing a station manager and former friend in south-east London during the bitter industrial dispute between the union and fire chiefs over new shift patterns which came to an end in February.

She has admitted sending her text messages but denies trying to harass or bully her.

In turn, Ms Griffiths is taking the LFB to an employment tribunal over her suspension.

The LFB said it has a policy of not commenting on individual firefighters.

The union’s hardship fund paid out �50,000 to colleagues during the industrial dispute, when their wages were docked, according to Ms Griffiths.

She said that when firefighters removed their goodwill to act up to other duties, up to 60 per cent of their pay was withheld in some cases.

A LFB spokeswoman said some staff received a reduction in pay because they weren’t performing some of the duties they were contracted to perform.