WREXHAM volunteers were delighted to receive recognition of their hard work throughout the covid-19 pandamic.

Blood Bikes Wales has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for its work since the start of the crisis.

Its riders carry all kinds of medical supplies including milk for premature babies, blood, plasma, medicine, equipment and more to hospitals and other areas of need.

Chris Jones, area committee representative for Blood Bikes Wales Wrexham branch, said: "Our workload went up by about 300 per cent during the pandemic.

"We have 90 volunteers in Wrexham and currently we have 45 riders.

"On average at the moment we do four to five jobs a day, but in the peak we were doing up to 32.

"I am a rider and it was very hectic, non-stop.

"Luckily it's calming now, and it's come back down to a good level.

"Blood Bikes Wales receiving this award is just the cherry on the cake. "It was quite emotional to hear, really - we don't ask or look for recognition. "But to receive something like this was out of this world."

The good news comes as the team in Wrexham retires one of its bikes - handed over by former Wrexham Mayor Andy Williams two years ago - and brings a brand new one into service.

Mr Jones said: "The bike which Andy Williams bought has done 72,000 miles in two years, so it has been retired.

"Our new one came from central funds - we raised the money for it - and it was unveiled at Maesgwyn Hall by Wrexham Mayor Cllr Ronnie Prince.

"The bike is a BMW and is named after one of our members, Maggie Colman, who sadly passed away - so it is called Maggie C.

"It is also in memory of another of our members who passed away a few weeks back, and has a sticker: in memory of Paul Mackrell.

"At that handover, we were joined by Maggie's widower Steve Colman, and Paul's widow Alison Mackrell."