Thousands of pounds raised by an annual appeal has been presented to good causes.

The 2008 Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Rudolph fund raised £13,824.29.

Rudolph fund secretary Zoe King thanked the volunteers who gave up their time and the people who donated.

The recipients included Leicestershire Downs Syndrome Group, The Laura Centre, Hannah Edwards Cancer Appeal, Wishes 4 Kids and Leicestershire Children's Holiday Centre, in Mablethorpe.

A cheque was presented to a representative of each of the charities by deputy chief fire officer Ian Scarrott, at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters in Leicester Road, Glenfield.