The dad of The Royle Family, Jim Royle, has helped Radio Clatterbridge land a top national award.

The station - which broadcasts on 1386AM and online to patients, staff and visitors at Clatterbridge Health Park in Bebington - has won a silver prize in the 'Best Station Promotion' at the national HBA Awards, which celebrates the best of hospital radio.

HBA stands for Hospital Broadcasting Association,

The audio trailer features actor Ricky Tomlinson in character as Jim Royle, paying tribute to workers at Clatterbridge Health Park for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In it, he said: "I want to thank you for the wonderful job you're doing looking after yourselves, but also looking after other people.

"This is a terrible time we are going through with this invisible blinking enemy, but we can overcome it with the likes of you helping to do it.

"You're doing a wonderful job, each and every one of you. Keep your chin up, and Jim says when this is all over I'll buy you a drink!"

The judges commented that they "liked the idea of using a recognisable character in Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), which easily caught the ear of the listener."

Radio Clatterbridge Chair, Steve Evans, said: "We are absolutely delighted to win this award.

"Every one of us has reason to be thankful for the incredible work of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, and the trailers were our way of paying an on-air tribute to their dedication and commitment.

"We've been supporting the NHS since we launched in 1951, and the award is a lovely early birthday present just ahead of our 70th anniversary on the 9th of April."

Other trailers in the series featured the likes of Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock and broadcaster Pete Price.

Radio Clatterbridge broadcasts to organisations based at Clatterbridge Health Park including Clatterbridge Hospital, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral Hospice St Johns and Claire House Children's Hospice.

The station's winning entry can be found here.

Just scroll down to Best Station Promotion...