Macho Belgian firefighters are furious at a Brussels-wide rebranding exercise that could ditch their tough badge, which boasts twin axes, helmet and flames, in favour of a heart-shaped flower.

The new logo is consistent with Brussels in-house style and uses the city’s Iris motif, which is picked out with two stylised flames on one side.

“The men think it is too soft,” said Dirk Van der Ougstraete, of the ACV trade union.

Trade unionists said that the Brussels fire brigade was ready to mutiny against the new image, declared it looked more like a bottom than a badge and said it could lead to them being mistaken for postmen.

“Everyone is really furious. Our identity is completely lost with this,” said Eric Labourdette of the trade union VSOA.

“If this comes through we will flex our muscles."

He told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper: “Everywhere in the world there is an element in the fire department logo that really has to do with the fire department. Whether it is a flame, a helmet or an axe. This looks more like a backside than a fire department logo."