Is there any better way to start 2019 than having a sort out? Out with the old in with the new. For the Fire Fighters Charity this is the perfect time of the year to launch Bag it and Bank it Campaign. The charity encourages stations to collect as much clothing as they can so the can recycle them to help raise funds.

Last year more than 700 fire stations up and down the UK got involved, the crews help raise thousands of pounds for the Fire Fighters charity.

Crews across Cumbria are taking part and Kevin Biles Sales and Recycling Manager said: "Bag it and bank it January competition has been won by Egremont fire station, Cumbria for the last few years, with last year collecting over 11 tones of clothing just in the month of January, making them the champions of not only England, but the whole of the UK."

The competition can be tough between all the stations, but the now generate over £530,000 per year through people donating their unwanted clothing, shoes, handbags and other textiles

This also diverts thousands of tons of clothing away from landfill, reusing, re-selling and recycling everything that is collected, while at the same time, generating a large sum of money for our Charity to help support our UK Fire & Rescue Service beneficiaries in their time of need.

Kevin continued: "Since Cumbria fire stations first had a textile bank placed, between them all, they have collected over 222 tonnes of clothing, generating over £47,000 for our Charity which is a fantastic achievement."

Since the collections started, textile recycling across the UK has now generated over £3million for our Charity since 2009.