POSTAL workers led a procession on Thursday to thank the NHS and received thanks in return for their own hard-work during the pandemic.

Royal Mail in Blackburn turned out at Royal Blackburn Hospital to thank the NHS in their own way for doing the amazing work they do before and during the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the workers, John Paul Hayhurst was overwhelmed by the response from the NHS workers themselves.

The fifty-five-year-old from Blackburn, said: “A few staff put in the idea to the manager to do the procession and we went around with a list and ended up with 25 cars in the end.

“It was a good gesture because a lot of people here have had to rely on the NHS at some point in their lives.

“So, we thought about how we could also thank them and appreciate them.

“Then some of the NHS workers were making films of us and thanked us for our work, because what we do is important to them and it was amazing.

“They showed us their appreciation as we showed them ours.”

Mr Hayhurst himself spent two weeks in isolation after contracting the virus.

He said: “I had the virus myself and was off work for two weeks before I recovered and came back.

“Of course, sometimes we are anxious, but you have to get the job done because people are relying on us even more.

“It’s good being back at work and I feel safer as we have rules and PPE now.”

The Royal Mail in Blackburn have strict measures regarding social distancing and have regulations to ensure everyone’s safety.

He said: “We are doing returns for the covid-19 tests and we are still getting people’s medications to them as well as delivering items to the community if they need it.”

Mr Hayhurst along with other postal workers also take time to knock on the doors of the vulnerable and check to see if they are okay.

“It is a extremely busy time for us as people are also buying more things online so there is a greater demand to deliver too.

“This is one of the most testing times we have had to work in and everyone has been amazing doing their best.”