A GROUP of firefighters running 60 miles in one day reached St Mary’s fire station in Southampton shortly before 11pm last night.

Crossing East Sussex, West Sussex and into Hampshire, the team of 12 firefighters were raising money for the families of Alan Bannon and James Shears, the firefighters killed in a blaze at Shirley Towers, Southampton, last month.

As they arrived at the station they met colleagues from the Red Watch team, of which Alan and James had been members.

Firefighter Daren Smith, from Hove Fire station, helped organise the fundraiser. He said: “They all came sprinting up the road and they’ve done absolutely brilliantly. They’re looking pretty good considering, it’s probably more relief than anything.”