A TEACHING assistant has been honoured by his community for his work helping flood victims.

Jordan Taylor, 22, who works at St Leonard's Church of England Primary School, helped lead a team of up to 150 volunteers clean up the centre of Padiham after the River Calder flooded ruining homes and businesses in December.

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The clean up operation which lasted around ten days, was sparked off after Mr Taylor posted on Facebook to say that he would be in the town centre the following day from 9.30am if anyone wanted to join him to help out.

Mr Taylor of Albert Street, Padiham, said: "I love my town. I could not see so many people in trouble. It was a bit amazing to see people coming out giving their Christmases up to help clean up. The donations team were incredible as well.

"It made me feel proud and overwhelmed with the amount of people. In the first hours we went from 20 volunteers to over 100. We were knocking on people's doors saying, 'do you need any help'.

"We were helping people who were stuck in their vehicles, we went into people's houses and cleaned up.

"We went into Padiham Medical Centre and power-washed the walls and floors."

The Padiham-born hero was described by Padiham mayor, Cllr Jean Cunningham, as "like the Pied Piper gathering people together and doing wonderful work".

Mr Taylor was presented with a special annual community award on behalf of the people of Padiham during an assembly at the school attended by members of Mr Taylor's family, 280 pupils and teaching staff.

Headteacher, Beverly Holmes, announced that The Jordan Taylor Award for Community Service, would in future be presented to pupils who demonstrated community spirit in helping others in the town.

She said: "He came to St Leonard's as a child and came back to work here. He is absolutely very much Padiham born and bred.

"When you watch programmes on television you realise it is a really dangerous thing to get involved in but he just wanted to help other people."

The Mayor also received a cheque for £535 which children from the school raised in aid of the town's flood fund.

Another £300 was raised on a non uniform day and the children spent it in the shops and cafe which had been damaged in another effort to help.