BIRCHWOOD and Penketh firefighters are rolling up their sleeves and arming themselves with sponges and buckets of water for the annual charity car wash.

They will be raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, which gives respite, recuperation and rehabilitation for sick and injured firefighters and their families, by washing cars in exchange for a donation.

Birchwood's car wash is taking place at the fire station on Ordnance Avenue on Saturday, March 17 from 10am until 4pm.

Penketh's will take place on the same day at the station on Widnes Road, 10am until 4pm.

Firefighter Stuart Plaskett, the service’s Fire Fighter Charity coordinator, said: "We would really appreciate motorists bringing their cars along to have them washed in return for a donation. All funds raised go to The Fire Fighters Charity, the UK’s leading provider of life-enhancing services for serving and retired fire service personnel and their families.”

North west chair of the Fire Fighters Charity and Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mark Cashin, said: “The charity car wash is a great way to not only increase awareness of road safety but also to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity which has provided assistance to serving and retired firefighters for 75 years."

The Fire Fighters Charity is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and holds car washes in March and September each year to raise valuable funds for the charity.

The charity needs £8 million annually to secure services at its three centres across the country.