IT was Red Alert day at Eastleigh Fire Station as firefighters tried to make sure it was Santa Claus and not them who visited local children this Christmas.

Eastleigh's Imperial Club and local firefighters combined to stage a fire safety and fun day at the station.

Bus company Solent Blue Line weighed in with help by providing buses to ferry the children of club members to and from the fire station in safety.

Besides being able to view the station's fire appliances and equipment, youngsters got the chance to hit targets with water jets plus see a mock-up of a bedroom fire.

Sub officer Malcolm Crisp said: "The bedroom mock-up allows us to show the importance of shutting doors to contain the spread of fire and the importance of having smoke detectors and making sure that there are active batteries in them.

"It sells the message well, rather than us just talking to them.

Community safety days like this are just one of the things we are trying to do with lots of different groups of people - not only in Eastleigh but throughout Hampshire as well."

Parents at the event were also given advice on fire safety and escape plans after watching some videos.

According to one of the youngsters visiting the fire station, Red Alert day proved to be a real red letter day.

Nine-year-old Danielle Groom, of Ruskin Road, Eastleigh, said: "It's brilliant - but it was a bit scary in the room full of smoke."