A pub in the region has been awarded a Coronavirus Community Champion Award to recognise their fine community work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The award, given by Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman, has been handed to the White Swan in Ovingham after the pub has carried out a range of work for the local community including delivering meals every week during the pandemic.

To be nominated to receive the accolade, members of the local community contacted Hexham’s MP to put forward the business to be given the award and they have now received it as a result.

“I was delighted to present owners John and Lyndsey Sharkey and their team of staff with a Coronavirus Community Champion Award.,” said Guy.

“The pandemic has been tough for our local communities, and the work of individuals such as John and Lyndsey has ensured the most vulnerable have been kept safe.

“The White Swan is now back open to all, so please support our fantastic local businesses across Tynedale.”

The owners of the White Swan meanwhile were delighted to receive the award and they also paid tribute to the staff who have worked tirelessly over the course of the last 15 months.

“It was really nice to be appreciated,” said landlord John.

“We were doing takeaways on the weekends.

“My wife was delivering to the older ladies and gentlemen in the village and she was actually delivering to them - everybody else was picking up.

“People who used us for that a lot of them are still a little weary about going out so we’re still actually providing the service now as well.

“It’s not just about us its about all the staff as well.

"I like to think we're all a team here and they've all chipped in during the lockdown."

With restrictions having eased back in April, John went on to explain how the pub has found the first few weeks of welcoming customers back to the location for food and drinks.

"We have been really busy," added John.

"We reopened on April 12 when we you could open in the garden because we've got that decent sized garden out the back and we've still got the stretched tent and we were really busy.

"It was fantastic how the garden looked tremendous and everybody seemed to want to be back out again.

"Every single day we were really busy. Even when we had the spells of rain we had so much over we never had to close.

"We were supported fantastically by the locals in the local area not just in Ovingham but around the local area also.

"We got people coming from all over.

"It's a bit of a destination pub."

The White Swan in Ovingham is open from 12pm - 11pm Tuesday - Saturday. On Sundays and Mondays they are open between 12pm-10pm.