THE NEWS has teamed up with Dudley South MP Mike Wood to say a big thank you to dedicated NHS workers for their tireless work on the frontline during the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Wood is inviting school children to get creative and design a poster to say thank you to hard-working doctors, nurses, cleaners, cooks, porters and all the other staff working in the NHS.

The Conservative MP, who was nursed back to health by staff at Russells Hall Hospital when he fell ill with sepsis in 2017, said he wanted to do something to honour the efforts of frontline workers in the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: "I cannot thank our doctors nurses, cleaners, cooks and all other staff in the NHS enough for looking after us during coronavirus.

"As we begin to recover from the pandemic, I’d like our local children to design a poster that shows our gratitude for the NHS which we can display proudly in our local GP surgeries, hospitals, shops and homes.

"Our local children are incredibly talented and I look forward to shortlisting their entries with the Stourbridge and Dudley News."

Stephanie Preece, editor of the Stourbridge and Dudley News, added: “We are delighted to help in this competition. We are incredibly proud and grateful to our key workers throughout Dudley. This is a great way to help show that appreciation.”

Entries can be sent by post to 111a High Street, Wordsley, DY8 5QR, or email them to mike.wood.mp@parliament.uk. The deadline for entries is Friday June 26.

The best posters will then be shortlisted and the public will be asked to help pick a winner.

We will then print the winning poster which can be cut out and displayed in surgeries, shops and home windows.