A COACH firm has been awarded by the Welsh Government minister for local government after volunteering for a total of 3,700 hours during the coronavirus lockdown.

As North Wales tour operator Jones Holidays faced unprecedented holiday cancellations throughout the summer its staff helped members of nearby communities including delivery of prescriptions and food parcels.

The Here to Help campaign saw its driver cover more than 35,000 miles to deliver 6,000 prescriptions and food parcels delivered to vulnerable people across the region.

As a result of its effort the firm was awarded as a Community Champion Award by Hannah Blythyn MS.

Chris Owens, managing director for Alpine Travel, which runs Jones Holidays, said: “We are genuinely touched to have been nominated for the Community Champion Award. This will mean a great deal to all those who were involved in the Here to Help campaign and we are thrilled to have been able to help the community in the way that we have.”

Hannah Blythyn MS said: “It is a pleasure to thank Jones Holidays for their efforts to support vulnerable individuals in recent months."