BIG-HEARTED firefighters are asking the public to help them in the race to a recycling trophy.

Every January the Fire Fighters Charity holds a national competition between fire stations to see who can collect the greatest amount of donated clothing in their recycling bins.

And the company which recycles the textiles has just announced that Northallerton fire station is currently running second in the UK.

So far this month, a whopping 655kg has been put in the station’s yellow collection bin – and they have until January 31 to take the national title.

Now watch manager Bruce Reid – the charity’s beneficiary support co-ordinator in North Yorkshire – is calling on people to help the station take the top place and win the Rag Trophy.

“I’m urging everyone to look out their fashion faux pas, clothing they’ll never wear again, and even rags, and bring them along to the recycling bin at our Cosby Road fire station – urgently,” he said.

The contents of the bins are a major source of income for the charity, having brought in just over £m in four years.

The money raised assists serving and retired firefighters and their dependants, as well as fire and rescue service support staff, in times of illness, injury or other urgent need.

In the last six months, more than 250 have been helped in the Yorkshire region by the provision of rehabilitation, recuperation after illness or in other ways.