FIRE crews have supported a charitable East Lancashire couple who have called on people to donate gifts for underprivileged children this Christmas.

Blackburn and Darwen fire stations lent their support to Secret Santa Ltd (Santa’s workshop), a not-for-profit company that collects donations and toys for poor children in Blackburn with Darwen.

This year, the couple plan to provide 200 Santa sacks of presents to eight Blackburn with Darwen children’s centres so poor kids can enjoy the same pleasure as those from better-off backgrounds.

Phil Boulding, director of Secret Santa Ltd, has been given a VIP visit to Blackburn Fire Station could be used as a prize at their Christmas Fundraiser being held in the Premier Suite at Ewood Park later this month.

The experience will include a staged car crash, where the children will see the jaws of life cutting a car open, a house fire with simulated smoke, a stinger fire engine with extended nozzle as in Thunderbirds and the opportunity to look at the real fireman’s pole.

During the experience the youngsters will also dress up as little fire-fighters, climb all over the fire engines with the opportunity of turning on the lights and sirens and they will then have lunch with the ‘real’ fire fighters.

For further information about the Secret Santa appeal please telephone Phil on 07866566166 or email phil@secretsanta.ltd”