LIFE-savers from Worcestershire have been honoured at a top awards ceremony.

The Excellence in the Community Awards for Herefordshire and Worcestershire recognised the efforts of members of the public who help save lives and support the work of West Midlands Ambulance Service’s 4,000 staff.

Volunteer car drivers, St John Ambulance staff, the British Heart Foundation, community first responders and other voluntary groups were all recognised at the awards.

Ambulance service staff who helped at the Olympic Games and the Paralympics were also honoured.

Ambulance service chief executive Anthony Marsh said: “Tonight is an opportunity to stand back and reflect on the excellent work that you do and to say thank you. I’d like to say how very proud I am of all of you.”

Award winners included a long-service award for voluntary car driver Chris Jones, who has volunteered for 16 years in the Worcestershire area.

Emergency medical technicians Andrew Pryce-Rattle and Lloyd Wilkes, who are both based in Worcester, were given awards for their involvement in the Olympics.

The chief officer’s commendation went to Richard Brown, a community first responder in Droitwich who was the first person on the scene of a collapsed patient in the town and performed CPR which produced a pulse and respirations.

Rob Nichols, of the Evesham community first responder scheme, was presented with a distinguished service award after attending more that 800 cases as a CFR.

The lifetime achievement award went to Dr Dick Herbert, of the Mercia Accident Rescue Service.

A GP since the mid- 1960s, Dr Herbert has played a massive part in the BASICS doctor scheme since 1981.