AN 82-YEAR-OLD lollipop man who was in intensive care with Covid-19 for 10 days is now at home recovering – and he has thanked fellow villagers for their support.

Peter Griffiths, of Worsthorne, fell ill at the end of December. His neighbour helped him call the NHS 111 service who sent an ambulance to take Peter to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was immediately admitted to ICU.

Having described his 10 days in the ICU as a terrifying experience, Peter wanted to praise the efforts by the doctors and nurses who saved his life.

He said: "It was terrifying. They introduced a facial mask for oxygen which made my anxiety kick in - that was rather scary.

"They said it was for my own good so I had to bite the bullet and persevere with it and after that they had a normal mask on me. I went straight from one to the other.

"One girl – a neighbour of mine – works in the ICU and she came round pretty regularly to me and when they moved me out she said 'Peter you have been really, really lucky' and a doctor came round to me and said the same.

"Thank god I recovered from it."

After his stay in the ICU, Peter was transferred to Pendle Community Hospital in Nelson where he stayed for just over four weeks, spending a total of six weeks in hospital, before returning home in early February.

Peter became a lollipop man after retiring at 60 from E. Sutton and Son shoemakers in Bacup and has been working the crossing at Worsthorne Primary School for 15 years and before that for seven years at St Stephen’s Primary School in Burnley.

Deputy head Miss North and two pupils visited Peter and brought him a 'Get Well Soon' card and the teachers put together a collection for him at the village shop so he could get essential supplies while he continued to recover at home.

Other residents in the village have also brought him meals to make sure he is well nourished through his recovery.

Referencing Clarets fan and Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, Peter added: "You need to be in a dark place like I have been in to appreciate your happy place which in my case is in Worsthorne with all my friends.

"The people have been superb and I have been inundated with get-well wishes.

"Because I am a lollipop man, a lot of the mums I know at school have been bringing me food round.

"I've been inundated with help it's been wonderful."

Peter is excited to get back to his job as a lollipop man as soon as he can.