A firefighter has designed his own wristband to raise cash for a charity close to his heart.

Richard Woodward, from Witan Way, Witney, designed and produced 1,000 orange and yellow wristbands to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity. The bands sold out in a week.

Now Mr Woodward, who works as a retained firefighter at Witney Fire Station and full-time at Oxford’s Rewley Road, wants to order 10,000 more – making them available at every fire station in the country.

The 29-year-old said: “As soon as I got the wristbands they sold out – mainly to friends and family of firefighters. I’ve had people from fire stations in Southampton, Portsmouth and London asking for them to be sold.”

About a month ago, father-of-three Mr Woodward realised that there were no wristbands on sale for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Having worked in the marketing department at Jesolo, a Witney company which makes promotional materials like mousemats and wristbands, Mr Woodward designed the accessories and approached the charity for approval.

The wristbands, which cost about 45p to produce, sell at £2 each.

Mr Woodward, who became a firefighter six years ago, hopes to make £1m for the charity.

He said: “The charity helps retired firefighters and those who have been injured.”

Claire Tetlow, marketing manager at the Fire Fighters Charity, said “It is a great initiative – and a fantastic way of raising money and awareness.”

The charity is looking into whether the bands could go on sale nationwide.

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk For more information visit firefighters charity.org.uk