BUCKETS of cash are being donated to charity by Suffolk's firefighters.The money deposited by well-wishers during the fire strike is to go to good causes in the county.

BUCKETS of cash are being donated to charity by Suffolk's firefighters.

The money deposited by well-wishers during the fire strike is to go to good causes in the county.

Vince Jell, treasurer of the Suffolk Hardship Fund, said firefighters did not need the emergency reserves after the end of the long-running and often bitter pay dispute.

He said: "Money was given by members of the public, either by putting it in buckets or by sending in cheques, and by other unions.

"Fortunately we didn't need it, so we decided it should go to good causes. It took us a while to total it all up, but we've got nearly £13,000."

The cash is to go to three causes close to firefighters' hearts. Suffolk Accident and Rescue Service often work closely with colleagues from the fire service.

Emergency doctors from the SARS team are hand in hand with firefighters at the scene at serious car wrecks in the county.

Mr Jell said £3,000 would go to the service which has also been backed by an Evening Star campaign to buy up to the minute equipment for the heroic doctors.

Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust – an organisation which works to help victims of serious burns – will also benefit.

Another £3,000 will go to RAFT to help with their vital work in securing therapy and plastic surgery for fire victims.

But the lion's share of the cash will go to the families of firefighters who are injured or killed carrying out their heroic work.

The firefighters benevolent fund will receive nearly £7,000 from the collected cash.

Mr Jell said: "We wanted members of the public who donated money to us to know it would all be going to a good cause."

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