FYLDE firefighters helped raise a flaming great £25,000 for their stricken counterparts in New York through a fundraising walking tour of Lancashire's fire stations.

Firefighters and support staff from all stations in the county took part in the 500-mile-round walk over the weekend, collecting money along the way for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

The walk began in Chorley on Friday at 8.30am and arrived in Lytham at 5pm that evening. It then progressed to St Annes, South Shore and Blackpool. On Saturday morning the walk continued to Bispham, Fleetwood and out to Wesham, Preesall and Garstang before heading out of the Fylde.

Sub Officer Neil Hardiman from service headquarters in Fulwood was one of the organisers of the walk. He said he was thrilled with the response.

"It was brilliant. We had a cracking time on the Fylde. It went really well and there was a huge response from the public and the stations themselves really got involved."

At the South Shore leg of the walk, the fire cadets --the youth organisation run by the fire and rescue service -- joined in the walk to do their bit.

Mr Hardiman said that public response had been overwhelming: "When we reached Lytham we met a guy from America who had heard about the walk and had waited in a pub until we came so he could make a donation. It's been a huge success."

He said that so far the walk had raised at least £25,000. One anonymous donor gave £1,000 toward the fund. And, added to prior fundraising, the service may ultimately raise around £40,000 for victims of the attack.