Firefighters brought Christmas magic to families across County Durham and Darlington with their annual Santa on Tour fundraiser.
Santa joined crews from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) on a festive fire engine for a three-day tour of fire stations and supermarkets where they met with excited youngsters.
The event was from Monday, December 15, to Wednesday, December 17 and raised more than £400 for The Fire Fighters Charity.
The charity helps all serving and retired members of the UK's fire family to live healthier and happier lives by providing vital support and access to services.
Now in its fifth year, the hugely popular event attracted huge crowds of people wanting to catch a glimpse of Santa before the big day.
Santa on Tour organiser, Durham Firefighter Connor McCabe, said: “The Santa on Tour event is always a highlight of our year as we love bringing some
Christmas cheer to families in the communities that we serve.
“It was brilliant to see how happy the children were to see Santa on our festive fire engine.
“Thank you to everyone who came along and showed their support for The Fire Fighters Charity once again.
“All the money we have raised will go towards making a real difference to the lives of our firefighters and Service staff.
“We hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas!”
CDDFRS is encouraging the public give themselves peace of mind this festive season by checking their smoke alarms are working.
Households should have a smoke alarm on every level of their home and check they are working every week by pressing the test button until it sounds.
If it fails to go off, the batteries may need replacing.
You can quickly check how safe your home is and whether you are eligible for a free Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) here: https://www.ddfire.gov.uk/free-home-fire-safety-visit.
During a home fire safety visit, staff from your local fire station will come to your home to fit smoke alarms and chat about how to keep your family safe from fire.
Photo caption: Santa on Tour 2025 has been a big success raising hundreds for The Fire Fighters Charity. Pictured is Santa with firefighters, Fire Cadets and police.
