WILTSHIRE'S new fire chief, Andy Goves, saw at first hand on Saturday the close relationship his retained firefighters enjoy with members of the local community.

He attended Breakfast with Santa, the annual event the crews at Devizes Fire Station hold to raise money for the National Fire Services Benevolent Fund.

Children lucky enough to get a ticket to the event are served up a breakfast of bangers and beans and receive a present from Father Christmas.

Firefighter Richard Lake said: "All tickets for both sittings were sold out well ahead of the day.

"It is absolutely brilliant we get so much support from the local community. I know Mr Goves was very impressed by the number of children who turned up."

Mr Goves took over from retiring fire chief Neil Wright at the beginning of December.