A REFUGEE from Syria who has made Bromsgrove his home will have a train named after him in recognition of his tireless volunteer efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mazen Salmou ran countless errands to help vulnerable people during lockdown, delivering supplies including pharmacy descriptions on his bike.

His work for the Bromsgrove Community Support Group has resulted in him being named as one of BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester’s Make A Difference Superstars.

Both he and fellow winner Charlotte Marsland, from Kidderminster, will have a high-speed Great Western Railway train named after them at a special ceremony.

Mazen moved to Bromsgrove as part of Worcestershire County Council’s refugee settlement programme and said he wanted to give something back to the community that had welcomed him.

Speaking on the station after being told of his award, an emotional Mazen said: “I wanted to help others because I truly believe that nothing is as important as humanity.

“I refused to just sit back and watch people struggling, so I decided to join the [Bromsgrove Community Support] group to help others.”

GWR interim managing director Matthew Golton said: “The GWR has a long and proud history of naming trains after Great Westerners – past and present heroes from across our network.

"And to that list now we can add the names of Mazen Salmou and Charlotte Marsland from the BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester region.

“Listening to BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester we were particularly overwhelmed by the stories of these two winners and I hope our train-naming ceremonies will serve as a fitting tribute to them.”