LEIGH firemen are to hose down vehicles as part of their charity fund raising challenge.

The lads of Blue Watch have organised a charity car wash at the St Helens Road station on Saturday (April 2) to raise money to take part in a Three Peaks Challenge for Cancer Research.

The lads are hoping to collect the £1,500 sponsorship they need to complete the climb of three of Britain's highest peaks in 24 hours - Snowdon in Wales 3560ft, Scafell in the Lake District 3210ft and the highest Ben Nevis in Scotland 4370ft.

The 15-strong watch who will be on car wash duties from 10am have been sponsored with mops, buckets and placards by B and Q, Halfords and Travis Perkins.

A team of six walkers, Adam Toole, Simon Chadwick, Michael Fairhurst, Craig Cubbins, Paul Baines and Gordon Worthington and their back-up team of drivers and cooks, Stuart Hodson, Malcolm Stallard and Colin Jones, will set off on June 18 at 9am climbing Snowdon, then moving on to the Lake District and Scotland before finishing at 9am the next day.

Adam said: "We received a poster from Cancer Research at the station and decided to give the challenge a go. All we have to do now is get the sponsorship money together and then get fit for a fast 20 mile walk and climb."

There are no fixed charges at Saturday's car wash, the lads are relying on the generosity of the customers to boost their appeal.