IT will be sponges at the ready when firefighters hold a charity car wash with an invitation to bring your motor to the station.

Crews at St Helens Community Fire Station will have their wash buckets on Saturday, March 8 from 10.30am to 3pm in aid of The Firefighters Charity.

Staff from Barclays on Church Street, St Helens, will also lend a hand and the bank will match-fund any money raised.

The money will help provide rehabilitation and support for current firefighters, those who have retired and their families.

The funds raised for The Fire Fighters Charity will help to provide rehabilitation along with a range of support for firefighters, MF&RS staff, retired firefighters and family members.

There are three rehabilitation centres in Cumbria Devon and West Sussex which cost the charity £9m a year to run.

The fire service’s Group Manager Gary Oakford, who is the service coordinator for the charity said: “We are really hoping that as many people as possible will come along and have their cars washed on the day, while raising money for a very good cause.

“The charity is very important to firefighters and the rest of the firefighting community. It offers a range of valuable services including rehabilitation to help injured firefighters get back to fitness and in some cases it also offers financial as well as emotional support.”

The other car washes will be held at Southport Community Fire Station, in Manchester Road and ASDA supermarket car park in Huyton Lane.