A COLCHESTER volunteer rubbed shoulders with the stars at the Pride of Britain awards.

Alice Randell, 23, met the likes of comedian Michael McIntyre and television presenter Ben Shepherd after reaching the finals of the local hero category.

Alice, of Greenfield Houses, in Birch, said: “I didn’t get the award, but I had an amazing night. To be with all those wonderful people was a real treat.”

Alice, who was chosen as Anglian Television’s local hero in the regional heats, went to the star-studded ceremony on Monday, which was attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Charles.

The show was screened on ITV on Wednesday night.

She was nominated by fiance Andrew Kettle because of her tireless community work, including being the leader of Colchester St John Ambulance’s youngest group, the Badgers, who are aged between five and ten.

She also provides treatment as a first responder, before paramedics arrive after an emergency callout, and is a special constable for Essex Police, in Colchester.

All this is in addition to her day job, which sees her book hospital transport following calls from GP surgeries, nurses and patients.

Last year, Alice won the chief ambulance officer’s award after providing first aid in the aftermath of the Harwich powerboat festival accident in which Ian Stirling lost his life and two others were seriously injured.

She joined St John Ambulance in 2008 because she was grateful for the medical care she received after she suffered seizures when she was a teenager.