Firefighters temporarily swapped hoses and ladders for buckets and sponges when they teamed up with local volunteers for a charity car wash on the forecourt of Abergavenny Fire Station on Saturday.

The money raised through the event was split between the firefighters’ charity and Nevill Hall Hospital children’s centre.

The volunteers included Lorraine Jenkins, Adam Burrows and Caroline Hammond and their families. Together with the firefighters they raised over £1,000.

“I don’t know how many customers we had, but there wasn’t a minute where there wasn’t a car being washed!” said Lorraine.

“We held the event from 10am to 3pm and around 15 firefighters got involved. Luckily the station didn’t have a call out in that time!

“We had Ellie the Elephant standing outside, waving to passing motorists and welcoming them into the station.”

Children from the three volunteer families all helped, including Lorraine’s ten-year-old son, who uses the children’s centre at Nevill Hall himself.

Lorraine, who is also a volunteer at the centre, said it was great to have the chance to partner up with Abergavenny Fire Station and raise funds for two worthy causes.

“I also want to say a massive ‘thank you’ to all the firemen and volunteers for their hard work as they didn’t stop all day!” she said.

Last year Lorraine and three friends raised £1,100-plus to buy Christmas presents for children at Nevill Hall Hospital, Nant Celyn, Crownbridge School and Craig y Parc School and Residential Home.

They were sponsored to zip-wire over a flooded quarry from a 70-metre cliff, and they also organised a fund-raising raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.