FIRE crews from Maindee fire station in Newport joined forces with fellow firefighters across the UK on Saturday as they rolled up their sleeves for the first National Car Wash Day.

Firefighters took to the streets to soap, scrub and hose down dozens of cars during the day, to raise buckets of cash for the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund.

Station officer David Bents, brigade treasurer, who organised the event, said: "We hope to raise a substanial amount of money for the benevolent fund."

The fund provides assistance to retired and serving fire service personnel and their families, through the provision of sheltered housing, recuperative care, rehabilitation and child and family therapy programmes.