BILLY the Coleford fire station sleigh is getting ready for his rounds in the run-up to Christmas.

The sleigh, named in honour of former firefighter Bill Whiffen, takes Santa around the area, distributing treats to children.

There is also a collection for the Firefighters’ Charity which last year raised an incredible £3,000.

Billy has had to have a facelift this year as there is a new trailer which is a bit smaller than last year’s.

Retired builder Lyndon Kear has taken on the job of making Billy look the part and he is all ready for his debut on Saturday (December 2) at the Coleford Christmas switch-on.

Firefighter Matt Spire, who is Lyndon’s son-in-law, said: “It sounds like a simple job but it has been quite complex.

“We are very grateful to Lyndon for all his hard work on Billy.”

Fellow firefighter Ian Brace said they had received donations and assistance from businesses in the Coleford area.

He said: “We’ve received so much help from local businesses for which we are grateful.”

Billy – now kitted out with a snow blower courtesy of the Berry Hill Christmas Lights Committee – will start from the fire station at 5pm on Saturday.

Other stops are: Monday, December 3: Sling and Clearwell, 6pm; Friday, December 8: Berry Hill lights switch-on, 6pm; Monday, December 11: Tufthorn Avenue and Milkwall, 6pm, Coalway and Queensway, 7pm; Thursday, December 14: Coleford town area, 6.30pm; Saturday, December 16: Whitemead, Parkend, 10am; Thursday, December 21: Broadwell, Mile End, Lydbrook/Joy’s Green, 6.30pm-7pm; Saturday, December 23: Forest Holidays, Christ­church, 1pm-3pm; Sunday, December 24: Coleford Co-op, 9am-2pm.

The firefighters with Billy will be on call so may have to cancel in the event of an emergency.

The team also says that while donations for the Firefighters’ Charity are welcome, they never knock on doors.