Popular Burnley postman receives award for delivering chocolate treats to elderly and vulnerable residents during lockdown

Paul Parfitt was nominated for the BBC Everyday Hero award by residents in Worsthorne where he has been the regular 'postie' for the past five years.

Seeing how many of the elderly, vulnerable and lone residents faced some difficult times due to having to self isolate he dropped off with some chocolate treats with his usual delivery of letters signed with a little note to say who they were from.

Villagers, who know him as 'Paul the Postie' were so grateful for the thoughtful gesture many of them left Paul little gifts and notes in return and then came the nomination for the BBC Everyday Hero Award.

Modest Paul said: "I know a lot of people in the community of Worsthorne and it is lovely to be able to stop and have a little chat or say a quick hello.

"The lockdown made me realise there were many people who may not see their families, friends or anyone else for weeks on end so I wanted to do something to cheer them up."

Paul also donated his Christmas stamps to the village shop to hand out to vulnerable and elderly residents so they can keep in touch by letter with their friends and relatives.

Paul (36) started work as a postman at the age of 16. It was only supposed to be a summer job before he began studyingy at the former St Theodore's Sixth Form but when he missed the first week of the term he decided to stick with his job.

Over the years Paul, who is also a Beaver and Cub Scout leader with St Matthew with Holy Trinity Group, has worked on rounds all over Burnley and he admits he loves his job, saying: "My round at the moment covers a lot of rural and farmland area so driving around there everyday is just great.

"I don't have many bad days but if I do I just need to look at those views."

Married to Laura, who is a carer for Shared Lives, the couple have two children Joshua (15) and 13-year-old Ebony-Rose who both attend Blessed Trinity RC College in Burnley.

Communication Workers' Union North West/North Wales divisional rep Paul Dugdale described news of Paul's award as 'genuinely uplifting' sayibng: “Paul’s first thought was for the lonely and vulnerable people on his delivery and he wanted them to know he was there for them and they were not alone.

“That, alongside the kind gifts he distributed, is an unbelievably generous and selfless act of kindness and the CWU NW/NW Division are very proud of him and all of our members who are working extremely hard during this crisis.”