Rescue efforts show another side to council warden’s job

Liz Bailey, who works for Bradford Council, was on patrol in the village of Wilsden, near Bingley, when a 93-year-old man was accidentally pushed over by a large 4x4 as it slowly reversed from a car park.

“It wasn’t the driver’s nor the old man’s fault, he was crossing the road stooped over a walking stick and was too low for the driver to see him out of the back window of the vehicle,” said Miss Bailey.

The man was pushed to the ground by the vehicle and could have been run over had not the neighbourhood warden rushed across the road to bang on the back of the 4x4 to make it stop.

Miss Bailey, 43, said: “Other people helped as well and thanks to them and the driver stopping right away, the man did not receive any serious injuries.”

Just seven days earlier she had been on patrol in Burley-in-Wharfedale with Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Andy Wade, when they heard a cry of distress.

Miss Bailey said: “At first I didn’t know what it was, but then we spotted an elderly lady who had fallen between the walls of her house and garage while moving her wheelie bin. She said she had been stuck there for about an hour.”

After lifting the lady to her feet and taking her inside her home, PCSO Wade and the neighbourhood warden made her something to eat and drink.

They called her GP as well as contacting her son to let him know what had happened.

An examination revealed she had been shaken and bruised by the incident but not more seriously injured.

Miss Bailey, a former marketing and advertising manager, has been a Bradford Council neighbourhood warden for nearly two years.

Councillor Imran Hussain, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said: “I would like to commend Liz’s actions and the actions of PCSO Wade.

“The council is proud of them. Both incidents go to highlight the full range of services provided by Bradford Council neighbourhood wardens and how they play a complete role in all aspects of community life.”