24 February 2009

Television celebrity Fern Britton picked up a foaming sponge and became a soap star for the day to help draw attention to one of the biggest dates in a charity’s calendar.

The presenter of ITV’s This Morning show, who lives in Buckinghamshire, is pictured after she called in to Beaconsfield Fire Station to help publicise National Car Wash Day. The event raises money for The Fire Fighters Charity, and involves fire stations throughout the UK washing the nation’s cars in exchange for a donation. 

This year’s date is Saturday 7 March. Beaconsfield and Princes Risborough Fire Stations have already signed up to take part – just turn up any time between 10am and 2pm.

The event also enables firefighters to pass on important community safety messages to the public.

Terry Ridgley, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's representative on The Fire Fighters Charity, said: "Firefighters will have their buckets and sponges at the ready to help raise the profile of our charity and bring in some much-needed funds.”

The charity provides assistance to serving and retired fire and rescue service staff, their families and dependants. Last year, 10 of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s 20 stations held car washes, raising more than £4,000 between them.

In April, firefighters from High Wycombe and Marlow Fire Stations will be combining their efforts for a charity car wash at Marlow Fire Station.

They will be sharing the money raised between The Fire Fighters Charity and the family of 16-year-old Elisha Herbert from Marlow.

Elisha, who has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumour, has had two operations and is now undergoing radiotherapy.

The car wash will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 4 April.

Great Missenden Fire Station will be holding its charity car wash on Saturday 28 March from 10am to 4pm.