FIREFIGHTERS in part of the North-East have been commended for their fundraising efforts by the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund (FSNBF).

The FSNBF is a charity that provides services that preserve the quality of life for serving and retired fire brigade personnel and their families.

The fund offers people services such as therapy and rehabilitation facilities, recuperative care and sheltered housing, in addition to recently introducing much-needed child and family therapy programmes.

Stranton Fire Station, in Hartlepool, was nominated by London Fire Brigade for the Spirit of Fire Awards in Leeds last month. The event was organised by the FSNBF to recognise individuals, stations and brigades for dedication to the charity.

London Fire Brigade put forward the station because they were impressed by the events the Hartlepool station holds for young children in the community to raise money for the fund, including Little Dennis.

Little Dennis was their idea to create a miniature fire engine from an electric truck, which started work as a service vehicle at Hartlepool Power Station in 1999. They converted it to a scaled-down fire appliance.

FSNBF secretary Dave Hansford said: "The firefighters who built Little Dennis did not have any idea of how famous he would become. We now get innundated with requests to attend schools and fetes all over the country. So far, he has raised more than £15,000 for the FSNBF.