A postal worker will be the first to receive a brand new award for showing tremendous dedication to her job and community.

Trudi Cresswell, 54, has been delivering letters and parcels in Wakes Colne for 38 years but she’s also known for taking time from her busy rounds to check on lonely residents.

And now Miss Cresswell has been chosen as the winner of an award to celebrate those who put extra effort in for the village. She said: “It’s very flattering but I don’t see anything I do as being especially different to what anyone else would do.

“I just live by what my mum always told me and try and treat others as I would like to be treated.

“One time I was concerned about an older man in the village because his curtains had stayed shut and he wasn’t answering the door. The police came along and it turned out he’d managed to get stuck in the bath.”

The parish council award scheme in Wakes Colne is a new prize which recognises service to the community. Vice-chairman Stephen Scrase said: “I suggested the village should have some sort of award for people who do things for their community but go unnoticed.

“There’s so many of these people and I find it rather irritating that minor celebrities should receive so much attention and yet people like Trudi don’t get any thanks for what they do.

"She works extremely hard at a post office which is probably being run on a shoestring and always makes sure things are delivered on time.

"And even though she works so hard she still takes the time to speak to people who perhaps don’t have anyone else to speak to.”

She will be presented with the award at the annual village assembly in May.