South Tyneside Council workers recognised for going extra mile

South Tyneside Council Waste Team members Lawrence Pettimore, front, and Lawrence Bain receive thank you gifts from the Mayor Coun Richard Porthouse and Mayoress Patricia Porthouse.

Lawrence Pettimore and Lawrence Baines were busy on their round in Salisbury Street, South Shields, when the unfortunate duo were struck by their garage door which was torn off by high winds battering the borough in January.

The crew members, from the waste team at Middlefields, South Shields, stayed with the man and woman while an ambulance arrived – before checking in on them later in the day to make sure they were fine.

The incident happened as winds of up to 60mph as Storm Gertrude gripped the country – leaving a trail of destruction.

The couple were so touched by their intervention that they sent a letter of praise to the council thanking the men for their help.

The two workers were then invited to the South Tyneside Mayor’s parlour to collect special congratulations from the borough’s first citizen.

They will also be able to raise a glass to their act of kindness after being presented with whisky tumblers.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Richard Porthouse, said: “I am very proud of the prompt actions taken by both members of the Waste Team and their concern for the welfare of local residents. It was heart-warming to read the letter from the couple commending the men for going out their way to help.

“The Mayoress and I wanted to thank the team members for demonstrating how every day the council’s staff work to help residents across the borough.”