Bumper year for Fochabers firefighters' Christmas street collection

FOCHABERS retained firefighters have raised almost £2500 for charity through their Christmas collection.

The trials and tribulations of the pandemic did not stop folk in the area digging deep to the tune of £2462, which will be split between local good causes and the Firefighters' Charity.

With last year's street collection cancelled, the retained team at the fire station were glad to be out and about again, although the collection bucket stayed behind with the public urged to donate contactlessly via a Just Giving page.

The sum collected smashes the total of around £800 from the last street collection in 2019, the pandemic seeing the no collection take place in 2020.

Crew commander Dave Crawford hailed the generosity of local folk.

"We're delighted to have raised this amount of money, it's fantastic especially during these times," he said.

"We'd like to thank everybody who donated for their generosity and helping raise cash which will benefit local good causes.

"It was good to get back out again in the communities we serve and people were glad to see us."

Mr Crawford reiterated the station's thanks to the Red Lion Tavern in Fochabers which got the collection off to the perfect start with a donation of £500.

Helping the team and their festively decorated fire engine raise some cash were none other than Santa, Rudolph and the famous Marshall the fire dog from Paw Patrol.

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