BRAVE staff from Cross Street Cars have completed an ice bucket challenge to go towards Christmas presents for sick children and dementia patients.

Office staff and a driver took part in the challenge outside Swindon Railway Station to coincide with Christmas Jumper Day and to give the company's two chosen Christmas charities a boost.

The taxi firm managed to raise more than £350 on the day, with £2 from every person wearing a jumper, as well as money raised from a raffle and donations to the ice bucket challenge.

Sonia Nijjar, 21, daughter of the company boss Sat Nijjar who has been coordinating the efforts, told the Adver: "It was a nice cold wintery day, but they didn't scream too much.

"We had quite a few passers by and members of the public donate as well so it was really successful and I'm happy with the amount that we did raise."

Taxi drivers and office staff from the company will visit Abbey House Care Home in Blunsdon and the children's ward at GWH this Thursday to donate toy and gifts to children and spend some time with residents who might not ordinarily get visitors over the Christmas period.

The firm has been running collection boxes and set up a fundraising page in November which managed to hit its £500 target, making sure they'll be plenty of gifts to go around.

"I'm really looking forward to visiting the hospital and care home, " added Sonia.

"We'll actually be able to see the patients and residents who are benefitting from our hard work.

"We'll be going over to the hospital in the morning and then the care home in the afternoon."

Cross Street Cars, based on Station Road, is a family-run company that has been providing its service all year round for more than 40 years.

Many of the drivers work closely with patients at Abbey House and have also undergone dementia training to better support residents.