Local 'heroes' for town campaign

The heroes are: Top row (L-R) - photographer Les Evans, Pc John Clarke and paramedic Ian Binnington; Bottom row (L-R) - Nurse Vicky Heyward, taxi driver Gary Lee, cafe worker Jane Hodgins and lecturer Debbie Hayfield

A paramedic, a nurse and a taxi driver are among seven local heroes who are to be celebrated in Wrexham.

The "ordinary people with extraordinary qualities" will be featured on hoardings around the town as part of the We Love Wrexham campaign.

Eagles Meadow shopping centre manager Kevin Critchley said: "This is an opportunity for us to celebrate the positive things going on in Wrexham."

Others honoured are a lecturer, cafe worker, police man and photographer.

Accident and emergency nurse Vicky Heyward In pictures: Wrexham's local heroes

Wrexham's so-called "magnificent seven" are:

• Debbie Hayfield, who is senior lecturer in English at Glyndwr University.
• Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Ian Binnington, of Rhosddu, who is team leader of the Caernarfon-based North Wales Air Ambulance and who is also frequently on duty in his home town.
• Pc John Clarke, community beat manager for Wrexham town centre.
• Accident and emergency nurse Vicky Heyward, from Coedpoeth.
• Jane Hodgins, 45, from Rhos, who works in the cafe at Marks & Spencer in Eagles Meadow shopping centre.
• Taxi driver Gary Lee, who gave up his own time to transport marshals for the Ladies Midnight Walk charity event for Nightingale House free of charge .
• Photographer Les Evans, 69, from Coedpoeth, who is the Evening Leader's football specialist and Wrexham FC's official photographer.

The We Love Wrexham campaign is being backed by celebrities Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vincent and Stan Boardman, Olympic gold medal-winning oarsman Tom James, Sky Sports presenter Bryn Law and politicians Ian Lucas MP and Lesley Griffiths AM.

It has been devised by Mr Critchley and Isobel Watson, town centre manager.

Their aim is to celebrate the qualities of the people who live and work in the town.

All those chosen are from Wrexham and have made large contributions to the life of the town and its people.

Mr Critchley said: "We were looking for genuine local heroes, people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, people with special qualities - and we've found them.

"They are Wrexham's very own Magnificent Seven."