ALMOST £600 was raised for charity when firefighters swapped hosepipes for buckets and sponges.

Motorists had their cars washed at the Ordnance Avenue fire station in Birchwood, in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity.

Spokesman Damian Wight said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us raise an amazing £285 which is doubled to £570 with Barclays’ match funding scheme.”