Middlesbrough Council workers going above and beyond throughout the response to the coronavirus outbreak have been recognised.

Teams and individuals across the authority have thrown themselves into new ways of working to keep essential services running and to provide additional assistance to the town's most vulnerable residents.

As a small gesture of appreciation Council Chief Executive Tony Parkinson launched a Going the Extra Mile awards to recognise individual efforts.

The awards generated around 200 nominations for staff across all service areas which were then whittled down to five winners and one overall winner.

The winners were:

• Finance & Support - David Nolan - Revenue and Benefits worker David has been a key figure in helping businesses receive Covid-19 support grants and assistance with business rates, often working Bank Holidays and additional hours to make sure the support reaches local businesses promptly.

• Growth & Place - Tammy Andrews - Tammy usually works from Acklam Community Hub and Library and has been collecting and delivering prescriptions, packing essential food parcels for vulnerable people, providing mental health first aid for Council colleagues and reading stories for children via the Middlesbrough Library Facebook page.

• Legal & Governance - Louise Grabham - Louise works in adult social care and has been instrumental in procuring essential personal protective equipment for Middlesbrough's care homes and often delivering it herself at all hours.

• Children's Services - Jill Patterson - Jill has stayed on beyond retirement and worked above her part-time hours in the key area of keeping children safe and ensuring their ongoing access to education.

• Adult Social Care and Health Integration - Debra Cochrane - Debbie works with the homeless and has gone above and beyond to make sure everyone has access to accommodation and essential support services.

All winners have been given a health and wellbeing hamper as a prize while the overall winner was judged by Chief Executive Tony Parkinson to be Tammy Andrews who has also received a gift voucher for Ananda Wellbeing on Albert Road.

Tammy said: "A lot of my colleagues have been on the #helpboro hub phone line but I wear hearing aids as I have a hearing impairment. I realised that I couldn't take calls as you have to be accurate when you are taking down the personal details of vulnerable residents. If you write a wrong number down it could mean someone doesn't get the help they need.

"I wanted to do something that would contribute to the brilliant work my colleagues were doing so I found other ways I could help out. Initially I was picking up prescriptions and click and collect shopping. Then I started assisting with the preparation of food parcels. However, my main role has been helping out on social media by producing story and Lego Club videos for children, with the help of my co-star, Monty the dog! I've thoroughly enjoyed being able to make a positive contribution to the great work being done by all Middlesbrough Council staff."

Mr Parkinson said: "Tammy is a credit to herself and an absolute credit to the Council. This is absolutely well-deserved and thanks very much to Tammy and all the other winners and all the staff doing great things who unfortunately we couldn't recognise through these awards.

"I am exceptionally proud of everything that we do and have done in relation to Covid-19 and the way that I believe what we have done embodies the Council's values."