Bradford’s finest newspaper distributors have been recognised for going the extra mile for their customers As voted by you, the readers, a trio of the Telegraph & Argus’ dedicated army of delivery staff were singled out for praise in our Newspaper Deliverer of the Year awards.

Almost 700 votes were cast in an overwhelming response to our search for the top trio. The winners received a mountain bike each, courtesy of competition sponsors Keith Lambert Cyclesport, Bingley, and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), at a presentation held at the T&A on Wednesday.

Winner of the direct delivery category was Wendy Allison, 45, of East Bowling, who, for more than three years, has delivered the T&A to the people of East Bowling.

She delivers 150 newspapers a day, six days a week, and runs a book club for residents who are housebound. She got in excess of 50 votes – more than any other nominee.

Once, she dished out bottles of water to residents on a street where the water supply had failed. She said: “It was just part of the job. I’ve no idea who nominated me but I’d like to say a big thank you to all my customers.”

Another winner was Ryan Watling, 13, of Thornbury. The Tong High School pupil came out on top for deliverers of our weekly, free paper, the Advertiser series, despite only having started two months ago. He delivers newspapers to 350 homes once a week with a little help from his father, Ray, who used to deliver the T&A for 15 years.

He must have got off to a good start in the job as he got chocolates as a Christmas present from one customer.

He said: “I’ll probably use the bike to go to school.”

The winner in the newsagents’ deliverer category was Bingley Grammar School pupil, James Proctor.

Fifteen-year-old James, of Wilsden, has been doing a round in the village on six days a week for nearly two years.

He said: “It only takes me half an hour on my bike – I’ll use my new one as an upgrade.

“I think I know the woman who voted for me.

“She can’t get about very well so I took her bills to the post office for her.”

His sister, Fiona Proctor, 17, was a runner-up.

All three winners were shown the presses at work on a tour of the T&A building led by Robert Drummond, Newsquest’s regional distribution manager with guests Stephen Hunter of the NFRN and Keith Lambert of Cyclesport.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “Our deliverers are often the unsung heroes of our operation, turning out come rain or shine to ensure our newspapers get to our readers in all but the most extreme circumstances.

“We hope this competition has helped to give our very worthy winners – and all the hundreds of others who were nominated – at least some of the credit they deserve for a job well done!”