DEVIZES firefighters hope to have raised £1,000 for the National Fire Services Benevolent Fund from their walk from Melksham to Devizes in full breathing apparatus on Saturday December 16.

The walkers collected more than £300 in buckets as they made their way along the A361 and into Devizes. With sponsorship, they hope the total will reach £1,000.

But the event was put in jeopardy at one point when tyres in a landfill site near Swindon caught fire.

Firefighter Dave Nash, who organised the walk, said: "It was all a bit touch and go. Our support vehicle had to go to the fire but we managed to keep our six walkers on course to complete the distance.

"If there had been a fire in Devizes we would have had to leave to the walk and attend to it, but fortunately it didn't happen."

The walk, formerly an annual event, has had to be cancelled in the past two years but the Devizes station crew were determined it should go ahead this year. It had to be postponed from its usual September slot, partly because of fundraising for the New York firefighters.

There are only few tickets left for Saturday's breakfast With Father Christmas at the fire station in Southbroom Road. For bookings call 0775 402 8832.