It's not Christmas in Dover until the firemen have parked their sleigh Outside Marks & Spencer - and yesterday (Saturday), the festive season began!

Friendly crew from Dover Fire Station were out in force in Biggin Street, collecting cash for their own charity and local good causes.

Stationed outside Marks & Spencer they played festive music while youngsters sat in their specially built Christmas sleigh.

Benevolent shoppers gave their loose change, and firefighters talked about fire safety - and made a fuss of little ones!

The crews will be back next Saturday (December 19), Sunday, and through until Christmas Eve.

Families at home in the evenings should listen out for music when the firefighters will continue their collections around the streets.

Father Christmas will be out on his sleigh, pulled along by a fire engine while the crews shake their buckets for extra donations.

Next Saturday (December 19) they will be at the Linces, On the Sunday they’ll go along Melbourne Avenue, On Monday, December 21, it’s St Radigund’s, Tuesday it’s Tower Hamlets on Wednesday they’ll be in Elms Vale and on Christmas Eve, they’ll go to Buckland Avenue.

Proceeds raised will be divided. Half will help the Firefighters Charity, and the other half will be split between local charities and good causes.

• If you appreciate the work the firefighters do and would like to donate, call in to Dover Fire Station, Ladywell, Dover.