RETIRED nurses Colin Foster and Cllr Jackie Floyd are helping fight coronavirus by volunteering as vaccinators.

Their return to scrubs is part of the drive to get vulnerable groups immunised as soon as possible.

Mr Foster, 70, who is working at the vaccination centre at Blackburn Cathedral, said: “The vaccination programme is such a massive event, I just thought every little will help. I would assume I still retained the skills that I had previously so I just volunteered to come back. It helps the tedium of lockdown as well so it’s a bit for myself and a bit to give back.

“As a nurse, and what I’ve learned over the last four to five weeks, I’d say to everybody, if you get offered the vaccine, then take it.”

Cllr Floyd, 63, who is on duty three times a week at the Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, said: “I wanted to get involved in this programme because, as a nurse, I wanted to make use of my skills.

“I’ve recovered from Covid and I have good IT skills, so I felt this was the perfect role for me to return to. It’s also important as a volunteer that you are taking pressure off NHS staff.

“So what I’d like to do is to encourage everybody to be prepared, get ready for when that phone call comes to your home asking you to turn up for your vaccination, and do all that you can, so that those folk at the other end of the phone don’t have to make another call. There are plenty of vaccination centres across the town.”