TODAY we celebrate a secret volunteer army who supplied vital PPE to our frontline NHS staff and key workers during a deadly crisis that still seems, at times, insurmountable.

Not since the last world war have so many been so indebted to so few - this time our carers, nurses, doctors, delivery drivers and supermarket shelf stackers. They are the backbone of this country and the iron in its blood. With true grit they have put their lives on the line for us and it is right that we applaud them - that is the very least we can do. But there are others out there for whom that little was not enough.

They are our secret army, those unassuming souls who set themselves a monumental task and delivered at the time we needed them most. They are our teachers, our lecturers, our neighbours, friends and even our children - those who went that extra mile to make vital PPE to keep Worcester's people and key workers safe.

There will be many who may well ask why such a Herculean labour should ever have proved necessary. But for now let us keep politics out of this and say, from the bottom of our hearts and as one, thank you, thank you, and again, thank you.