A midwife from Tottington who has been to Ukraine and Poland to help refugees who have fled the war following the Russian invasion will be standing in the local elections next month.

Wendy Warrington, who is also an NHS registered nurse, is battling to become an independent councillor for the Tottington ward in the upcoming local elections.

During the past 12 months, she has been travelling back and forth from Ukraine and Poland delivering vital medical equipment in high-risk areas including Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine.

Her achievements have been recognised nationally and she won the Best Midwife award at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards late last year.

Read more: Tottington midwife who helped Ukrainian refugees wins national award

Speaking about why she has decided to stand as a councillor, Wendy said: “I think most of the main parties have lost credibility both local and nationally.

“For me that’s something that really matters.

"In the elections, I couldn’t vote for anyone now unless they were independent because people say things and they over promise and under deliver and things don’t change.

“Therefore, I want to have a voice for the people of Tottington, it’s the area where I live and I’ve lived here for a long time, I’ve been born and brought up in Bury itself and the things that matter to the people locally are what matter to me too.”

Wendy previously served as a councillor for Unsworth from 1992 to 1996 and said at the time she vowed to do the job to the best of her ability, something she will continue to do if she is elected this year.

Read more: Midwife from Tottington up for RCM award

She said: “Being independent means I can choose what’s right for the area I represent.

“Things like potholes, bin collections, anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, these things matter to us as well, we want this area to be a nice place to live and grow up in.

“What’s taught me in the last 12 months is seeing how communities come together which is something that’s really important to me, building those community connections and helping each other.

“I do not intent to be a faceless councillor. It’s about putting people before politics.”

With her 38 years’ worth of knowledge working as an NHS midwife and nurse, she said how she would be interested in getting involved with the health scrutiny committee on the council.

She cited her experience would help her have a good understanding of the conversations that need to be had.

Read more: Brave Bury nurse travelled to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees

Regarding her aid work in Ukraine, she said she can continue to help without physically being there.

Wendy said: “I’ve gradually shifted into supporting maternity hospitals with equipment over there.

“That work can continue but I don’t have to be there, I have trusted people that will deliver equipment that I send over.

“I won’t do a full break from it altogether as it is something that’s really close to my heart.

“I will still go over but not for the length of time I used to.

“I’m not shifting from one for the other, they’ll just work alongside each other.”

Wendy stressed that she hopes as many people do come out and vote, regardless of who they vote for.

She added: “Sadly the turn out for local elections isn’t great so hopefully more people will come out and vote, they need to get their voice heard.

“If I am elected, I will work very hard for the people to represent them.”

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