Westlea fire station's Santa raises thousands for charity

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A Swindon fire station has raised thousands of pounds for charity with their festive fire engine.

Westlea Fire Station have been transporting Santa and his sleigh around Swindon this December atop a truck adorned with Christmas lights.

Santa has visited streets in Westlea, Eastleaze, Shaw, Grange Park, Sparcells and Peatmoor to collect donations for The Fire Fighters Charity.

The fire station was able to raise a total of £3385.78 throughout its Christmas collection.

The Fire Fighters Charity offers specialist, lifelong support for members of the fire services community in the UK, to empower individuals to live happier and healthier lives.

The special engine, called 'Martha', has been provided by the Wannell family for the last 25 years, with the event having first been started by the late Christopher Wannell.

'Martha' is now 81 years old and was part of the fire brigade during the Second World War.

A message from the Wannell family said: "It's been the honour and privilege of our family to provide our beloved vintage fire engine 'Martha' to the people of West Swindon to not only collect money for the Fire Fighters charity but to provide a bit of joy and celebration to a time of year where many people struggle."

"This event has expanded over the years into something we couldn’t have imagined. We would like to extend our thanks to the Westlea Fire Station, the Volunteers who make all of this possible and to the people of West Swindon who stand outside in the cold for a glimpse of Santa."

A spokesperson for Westlea Fire Station said: "We are thrilled to announce that we have raised an outstanding £3,385.78 for the Fire Fighters Charity, marking 25 years of successful fundraising.

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed and donated to this incredible achievement.

"Special thanks to the Wannell family for their ongoing support and for providing the vintage fire appliance, which has brought joy to our community for many years.

"We are truly grateful for your generosity and support."

Heidi Alexander, MP for Swindon South, paid a visit to Westlea Fire Station and Swindon Fire Station this month to thank the town's firefighters for their service alongside their charitable efforts.

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