FIREFIGHTERS used water hoses for a different purpose than normal - to wash hundreds of cars- and raised nearly £5,000 doing so.

Four stations around the county took part in the mass clean, part of a national day of fundraising for the Firefighters Charity.

Beaconsfield Fire Station brought in £1,300, High Wycombe Fire Station £1,213.16, while Broughton Fire Station raised £1,616.74, a station record, and Great Holm Fire Station got £632.35.

Beaconsfield Watch Manager Alex Strand said: “We were non-stop from opening up at 10am right through to the finish. It was really popular.”

The car washing marathon took place on March 21, the day after Comic Relief night.

A few hundred cars turned up to High Wycombe fire station for a clean, Crew Manager Eammon Eddowes said.

“It was great seeing people entering the spirit, especially after Comic Relief. You’d think people would be all ‘charitied out’, ” he said.

“Residents were very generous.”

Station Manager Keith Williams from Beaconsfield, also Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's fundraising coordinator, said: “Many thanks to everyone who helped on the day, and to everyone who came along and gave us such generous support.”

The Fire Fighters Charity is a national charity providing support and assistance to serving and retired fire and rescue service staff and their families.

Marlow Fire Station, in Parkway, just off the A404, will be holding a charity car wash on Saturday April 9 from 10am to 4pm.