HEROES who stepped up to help people during the Covid-19 pandemic will be recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Volunteers throughout Haddington assisted people by offering to collect prescriptions and shopping, tidy gardens, deliver hot meals or simply listen to concerns throughout the challenging time.

Now the town’s community council and events group wants to recognise those who have made a difference.

A spokesperson for the groups, which also cover Athelstaneford, said: “As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic has not been easy.

“It has, however, shown our community’s resilience over the last couple of years.

“We are looking to celebrate the people who went above and beyond to help our community in this time.”

Four awards will be presented on Sunday as the Haddington Festival gets under way.

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The community council is seeking nominations in four categories: outstanding adult volunteer during the pandemic; outstanding volunteer group during the pandemic; outstanding young volunteer during the pandemic; and special person who went above and beyond their paid duties during the pandemic.

Awards will be handed over at East Haugh after the parade of organisations, which gets started at 12.30pm.

Councillor John McMillan, who represents the Haddington and Lammermuir ward, was looking forward to the event.

He said: “It is a really nice way to bring back the festival since being cancelled because of Covid and to mark all the efforts of people.

“It would be great if people were to think about nominating people whose work might have just gone unnoticed.”

Go to haddingtoncc.org.uk/haddington-hero to make a nomination.