FIREFIGHTERS across Cambridgeshire are calling on the public to donate unwanted clothing and textiles at recycling banks in local fire stations.

Twenty-two stations in the county - including five in Fenland - are competing to collect as much unwanted clothing as possible in the month of January to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.

The teams are all hoping to be crowned top of the charity’s UK textile recycling league, which is a national competition among fire stations based on the quantity of textiles collected throughout the month.

For every tonne gathered at the recycling banks, The Fire Fighters Charity receives �220, and since April 2012, the scheme has raised �250,000 nationwide.

Kevin Biles, from the charity, said: “If the people of Cambridgeshire could take a look in their wardrobes and see if they have any clothes, shoes or handbags

they don’t want, now would be a great time to donate. It doesn’t matter what state the clothing is in as it will all be recycled.

“This is a great scheme because it is of no cost to the charity and every penny raised from generous donations by the public goes towards the valuable work

we do, including to support our three rehabiltation centres.”

The following fire stations in Fenland have recycling banks to collect clothing, fabrics, and shoes: Chatteris, Manea , March, Whittlesey and Wisbech.