Bolton's star volunteer has celebrated a significant milestone.

Christine Vernon is the first person to complete 500 hours of volunteering at Royal Bolton Hospital.

She joined the volunteer team in May 2017 and has been there ever since.

Christine said, “I love being part of a team again. Everyone is lovely to work with, they really look after me.

"I’m still learning, every day. To be honest I don’t feel like a volunteer, I just turn up and get stuck in.”

Christine has dedicated much of her free time since retirement supporting the staff on the postnatal ward.

She spends her days making cups of tea and coffee, helps make up beds, and chats to women and families on the ward.

Before volunteering, she spent 25 years working in the NHS, starting out as an auxilliary nurse.

She spent most of her career working in psychiatry in Bolton, and wanted to continue helping people when she retired.

Her experience of hospitals made her think that Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s volunteering scheme would be the perfect fit.

Christine Mills, Volunteer Coordinator at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said:

“I’ve had nothing but great feedback about Christine from all the midwives and support workers on the ward. It’s an absolute pleasure to present our first platinum volunteering certificate to Christine, and to thank her for her dedication.”

The Trust will accept applications for voluntary roles from anyone over 16, and requires volunteers to attend an induction session and commit to carrying out a four hour volunteering session per week for the month trial period.