A FIREFIGHTER is depending on the generosity of people across Bolton to support his warm-hearted festive mission.

Colin Faulds has the needs of the town's impoverished, cash-strapped families at heart as he asks for residents to donate advent calendars to needy children.

This is the third consecutive year that the Bolton firefighter has sought to ensure that children across the borough enjoy the special, traditional countdown to Christmas.

Mr Faulds, who lives in Heaton and has worked at Bolton Central Fire Station for 11 years, said: "I'm doing this to spread a bit of Christmas cheer.

"You think everyone gets something as simple as an advent calendar every year but the reality is that that is not the case for many families.

"These calendars will go to the children of families who access food banks. Hopefully this collection will brighten their December."

Over the past two years, Mr Faulds has helped to collect just under 2,000 of the chocolate-filled advent treats.

He launched this year's appeal on November 6 via social media, before which he had already received a number of messages asking when the appeal would go live.

"There has been a pretty good response so far," Mr Faulds said, "I have already had donations at the fire stations and a lady in Kearsley has asked the local supermarket to to support the appeal which is great."

He added: "Thank you again for you generosity over the past two years. If we can collect as many as possible, and fill the car to the brim, then it will be another huge success."

Tracey Wilkinson, who lives in Prestolee, is supporting the appeal by encouraging residents to donate.

She said: "The people in Kearsley are very community orientated and care about others. We have fully supported and got behind Colin's appeal for the last two years and will do again in 2019. Even our local Tesco Express supports the appeal.

"Christmas can sometimes become about greed and what we can get out of it and we lose the true meaning. Colin has shown Bolton a glimpse of the real reason behind the season. We are all busy people but taking a little time out for others goes a long way in this world."

Mr Faulds will be collecting calenders until November 23, before he takes them to the Urban Outreach offices, where they will distributed to families in need.

Calendars can be dropped off at any of Bolton's fire stations, including Bolton Central in Moor Lane, Bolton North in Cromton Way, Farnworth and Horwich, as well as at Unique Fitness Gym, in Bark Street.

Other drop-off points include Tesco Express in Kearsley, and Zac's Youth Bars in Prestolee and Farnworth.

Alternatively, email Mr Faulds at cdfaulds@gmail.com to arrange collection.