A Bradford businessman who helped stranded doctors and nurses get to work in last winter’s treacherous conditions has been nominated for a Community Stars Active Citizens Award.

Des Marples, the owner of SMK Nissan Independent 4x4 centre in Sunbridge Road, offered his services to staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s surgical and accident and emergency teams.

For the 35-year-old, of Holme Wood, it was a way of thanking Bradford Royal Infirmary, where his son received treatment almost ten years ago.

He also came to the rescue of a woman who was stuck on a gridlocked road for three hours after being discharged from the hospital with a six-day-old baby.

A disabled woman who had spent five hours waiting for a taxi at her workplace in the city centre after heavy snowfall also received help to get home.

Mr Marples said: “It’s great for businesses to get involved in the community and put something back into it and it’s good for us to show people how good our 4x4s really are.”

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