Two Blackburn-based drivers and a Burnley bus station cleaner are among the staff of East Lancashire's biggest bus operator's hailed in its latest round of awards.

Transdev has named the winners of two of its special schemes celebrating the achievements of its workers in the second half of last year.

Its specially created Pride of the North Cup to celebrates the best of its unsung heroes.

The company also presents its Transdev Honours monthly award created in 2020 to a single champion from one of its depots across the North.

The firm operates the Blackburn and Burnley Bus Companies, Rosso, Mainline, Witchway, Hotline and Red Express across Lancashire and the North-West.

Among the Pride of the North Cup winners were Blackburn’s Martin Carlin in November and Irfan Ifthkhar in December.

Mr Carlin was at the wheel of the Red Express X41 bus from Accrington to Manchester when he helped a struggling passenger returning from Blackburn Hospital after treatment for a dislocated wrist and broken arm.

Blackburn Bus Company driver Mr Ifthkhar is well known for his willingness to help as when he spotted a female jogger who had just suffered a fall, stopping his bus while two passengers tended to the injured woman and remaining with her until all was well.

In August the Transdev Academy’s Rochdale-based driving instructor Tracey Appleyard was highlighted as someone who has gone the extra mile to help an extra influx of new drivers through their tests, while also covering bus driving shifts herself.

The Transdev Honours scheme in August highlighted the work of Burnley Bus Station cleaner Maqsood Khan – known as ‘Max’.

He is described as “a pleasure to be around” and works hard to keep buses clean and tidy, while also helping with cleaning at The Burnley Bus Company’s Queensgate depot when its team are depleted by holidays and sickness.

In September Rosso operations manager Lee Wardle was featured for remaining at the company's Rochdale depot all night when fire broke out nearby, to ensure its buses were safe for service next morning.

In October:Transdev’s IT Service Manager Dan McGinty was nominated by two colleagues.

Transdev operations director, Vitto Pizzuti, said: “It’s in the unexpected moments when confronted with a challenge that we really see the amazing determination and dedication of our teams and individuals."