THE borough’s firefighters were out in force last weekend as they lent a hand – and a sponge – to the Stourbridge News Well of Life appeal.

Crews from Stourbridge, Dudley, Brierley Hill and Haden Cross congregated at Stourbridge Fire Station to wash as many cars as they could to help raise money for three causes.

As well as our Well of Life appeal, which is trying to raise £10,000 to provide a solar-powered water pump and irrigation system for the Gambian village of Sintet, the crew members also collected money for Walking With The Wounded and the Firefighters Charity.

Armed with buckets and sponges donated by Halfords, in Amblecote, the firefighters cleaned more than 50 cars between 10am and 2pm, taking donations in return for the freshly gleaming motors on the forecourt of the Parkfield Road station.

The crews were able to raise more than £350 during the car wash, which will now be distributed between the three causes.

White Watch Commander Anthony Dingley said: “It was a great morning and felt like we washed hundreds of cars, but in reality we probably cleaned about 50 to 70.

“It was hard work but it’s a great way for us to support the local community and charities as well as a nice way of being in touch with local people.”

The Stourbridge News Well of Life appeal is being run hand-in-hand with Ridgewood High School’s Project Gambia initiative.

If successful, the appeal will provide the 4,500 villagers with water for drinking, washing and watering crops and help them lift themselves out of crippling poverty and drought in the dry season.

Just last year, an eight-year-old boy plunged to his death down a well in his desperate attempts to draw water - and with your help we can prevent such a tragedy ever happening again.

Your donations for our appeal are still desperately needed - you can give money online by visiting www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal/, or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2 or £1 to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life Appeal on the back.

If you are carrying out an event to help raise funds for the Well of Life Appeal please call our reporter Dan Sharp on 01384 358223, or email dan.sharp@stourbridgenews.co.uk with details.