A PORTER at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has received the employee of the month award for his fundraising efforts.

Ismali Bhamji received the February prize after helping to raise money to buy specialist chairs for stroke patients.

He helped collect £13,600 with the trust’s chaplaincy staff to buy the equipment for the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and the Marsden War at Pendle Community Hospital.

Mr Bhamji spoke to staff and parents on the stroke ward to find out what the trust needed to improve facilities.

He also visited the two hospitals and made sure there was space for the extra chairs.

Mr Bhamji said: “I’m extremely honoured to receive this award.

"I saw an opportunity to help patients so I decided to do what I could to meet that need.”

A portion of the money raised was from staff within the trust due to work of the porter.

The award was presented by trust chief executive, Kevin McGee.