BRADFORD'S firefighters took on roles such as delivering essentials to shielding residents on top of their normal duties during lockdown.

They also helped set up a shopping service for residents in some areas, delivered PPE to care homes and handed out Easter Eggs to young hospital patients.

On Friday members of West Yorkshire Fire Authority will be given a presentation on the work the brigade has carried out since the start of the pandemic.

A report on the work in Bradford praises the "hard work and ability to adapt" of its staff who took on new roles to help their local communities.

Schemes referred to in the report include a shopping collection and delivery service set up by crews based at Silsden Station and work to re-distribute food to food banks in the District.

Bradford is worst in West Yorkshire for attacks on firefighters

Members of the Authority's Community Safety Committee will be told that in Bradford the Fire Service contacted different agencies and services once lockdown started to see how they could keep essential services running.

The spotlight report says: "One particular area where we felt we could support the most vulnerable people in Bradford was providing a delivery service for essentials such as food or medicines.

"The staffing levels at some pharmacies had been affected by staff shielding or isolating which resulted in lack of appropriately trained and trusted drivers.

"We arranged a meeting with the Community Pharmacy Network who provide governance and support to the local pharmacists that the communities use across West Yorkshire.

"Every morning our fire stations were contacted to check the availability of on duty volunteers for the delivery jobs that would be requested that day. We maintained a flexible approach by using our fire station personnel in the first instance, but had the ability to request volunteers from other departments in the organisation.

"By providing support for hundreds of deliveries across Bradford district we have assisted our partners to maintain essential services to the most vulnerable in our communities. Medicines, food and essential PPE have been distributed using a network of fire service volunteers whilst maintaining fire cover.

"The people in our community have responded positively to our support and have thanked the teams and individuals involved for helping and supporting them at this challenging time.

"Fire crews have been innovative and developed local initiatives, worked outside their usual roles and responsibilities to help people during the crisis. It’s down to their hard work and ability to adapt that we have been able to provide help across the district."

The meeting will also hear what work the service has done during lockdown in Kirklees, Calderdale, Leeds and Wakefield.