Toddler Teddy meets his “hero” bin crew

Bin crews had a small but mighty helper on their round in Dukinfield this week.

Two-year-old toddler Teddy got to meet his “hero” crew, help them bring the bins to the truck and also sit behind the wheel of the cab.

In return, the crew - driver Ian Bayley, Kevin Rogers and Tom Ashcroft - gave him a toy recycling truck as a souvenir of their little meet up.

The get-together was arranged after Teddy’s mum, Pam Speakes, got in touch with Tameside Council to ask if her son could meet the crew.

Pam, a school catering manager from Ashton, told how Teddy sees the brown bin recycling crew every Thursday morning when she drops him off with his childminder in Dukinfield.

She said: “Seeing the bin men is the highlight of Teddy’s week. He is always so excited to see them and they always wave and smile at him and the driver has also even gone to the trouble of jumping out of the cab and running over to Teddy to fist-bump with him and hi-five.

“I just think it’s really lovely of them. They work so hard but they always still have a smile and wave and little bit of effort goes a long way.

“My little man is obsessed with them! They are his heroes and I just wanted the chance to say thank you to them for everything they do.”

Tameside Council Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods Cllr Laura Boyle said: “It’s always so heartwarming to hear how our crews make a difference in the local community and I’m sure that smiles and waves from Teddy helps to make their day just as much as they make his. They are a fantastic bunch and it’s lovely for them to get some recognition for their community spirit as well as their hard work.

“Well done team and thank you also to Pam for contacting us to compliment them and highlight their good work.

“And you never know, perhaps they are helping us to recruit our team of the future too – it looks like Teddy enjoyed his chance to be a mini bin man with them!”