Shropshire firefighters are turning rags to riches for the Fire Fighters’ Charity after the successful launch of 13 recycling centres at county fire stations.

For the past six months, the Fire and Rescue Service has been working with the charity to collect textile donations.

Clothes banks at local fire stations have so far raised more than £2,500 for the charity.

Service Co-ordinator Ashley Brown said: " So far the scheme has been a great success with donations steadily increasing.

Firefighters who put out fires and carry out car crash rescues in Shropshire have successfully cut the number of emergencies they attend by more than a third in almost a decade, said the county’s Chief Fire Officer.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service had been “very successful” in its main role to prevent emergency incidents happening through successful public education campaigns working with the help of other organisations, John Redmond told the latest firefighter recruits at their “passing out” ceremony at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury tonight. (Monday, November 17th)

Telford Fire Station held a successful open day with eye catching demonstrations including a chip pan fire as firefighters and community fire safety officers showcased their skills to display the wide variety of work they do.

Adults and children visited the innovative “smoke house” used to educate people of all ages about fire safety and show them how to escape from a potentially life threatening house fire.