FIRE crews from across the borough have been trained by St John’s Ambulance to help deliver coronavirus vaccines to residents.

Barnsley firefighters, as part of South Yorkshire’s Fire and Rescue Service, have been trained to administer the vaccine and to support people as they go through the vaccination process.

The volunteers will complete up to two shifts a month with St John Ambulance as part of the huge national effort to get the country vaccinated.

Chief fire officer Alex Johnson, said: “No matter what the challenge is, fire and rescue service staff are ready, willing and able to help our communities wherever it is needed.

“I am very proud of every member of staff who has stepped forward so far to receive this training and incredibly grateful to St John Ambulance for giving us the skills, training and opportunity to do our bit.

“Myself and the other staff who have volunteered really can’t wait to get out to a vaccination centre to support this monumental national effort.”

In Barnsley, the fire service has supported the local response to the pandemic by delivering food and medicine to isolated people, distributing more than one million pieces of PPE to frontline health workers across South Yorkshire.

The service was recently presented with an award by the high sheriff of South Yorkshire Carole O’Neill in recognition of its work during the pandemic.