Derbyshire's 'lockdown heroes' rewarded for going above and beyond in their communities

Leighanna Henshaw, a mum-of-five, walked around her neighbourhood dressed as Pokemon character Pikachu.

Stacey’s Bakery, which has branches in Ilkeston, Eastwood and Heanor, held a ‘lockdown hero’ contest to reward the efforts of pillars of the community who went the extra mile amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After nominations flooded in, four worthy winners were chosen to each receive a £100 voucher to spend in Stacey’s shops.

Leighanna Henshaw, a mum-of-five, dressed as Pokemon character Pikachu and walked around the streets near her home in Cotmanhay over a period of four weeks, bringing a smile to the faces of local youngsters.

The 32-year-old raised around £400 through bucket collections and bake sales for Ilkeston Community Hospital.

She said: “I loved dressing as Pikachu, but it was very hot inside the suit. It feels great to get this recognition.”

Also picked as a winner was Lindsey Rice, a 47-year-old mum-of-one.

Lindsey co-founded the ‘Every One Eats’ charity, which provided 90 residents with Christmas lunches last year, along with reverend Christine French, of All Saints Church, Kirk Hallam.

When VE Day celebrations couldn’t be held on the church driveway, Lindsey took the party to residents’ homes, delivering food bags to 300 people.

Lindsey, who along with her husband went on to set up a food bank using local donations and makes several deliveries a week, also organised activities including curry nights and bingo on Saturdays at the start of lockdown.

She said: “It’s brilliant to have been nominated, it’s quite overwhelming.”

Another winner was Andie Welsher, 48, who during lockdown made more than 200 sets of scrubs for the NHS, while also looking after her elderly mum.

The Ilkeston resident also lost her three jobs because of the coronavirus, and suffered whiplash in a car accident recently, but continues to do her father’s shopping and go to work, despite needing physiotherapy.

David Stacey, managing director of Stacey’s Bakery, said: “This competition has helped to unearth some real gems living in our local area.”