A SELFLESS couple who have dedicated years of their lives to supporting others were nominated not once, not twice, but three times for the Evening Mail Bouquet of the Week.

Jenny and Howard Le Roy received two nominations for their hard work running Spring Mount Toddler Group in Barrow, ahead of their retirement this week.

January Jones first took her niece to the group 16 years ago. She has since seen the couple take care of her own daughters, now six, four and one.

She said: “They are always there with a cheery smile, which is sometimes the most welcome thing when you're a mum of young children.”

Sharon Leitch also took her son Ben, now 11, to the group when he was just 12 weeks old. Having later become a volunteer herself, she has seen first hand how hard Jenny and Howard work.

She said: “They are more than deserving of this. They are so selfless and give all their time to organise it. They constantly go above and beyond and all the parents at the group absolutely love them.

“They will be over the moon with this, they will probably say that they don't deserve it but they really do. They give up all their time willingly and will do anything for anyone.”

Jenny and Howard were also nominated by Margaret Burrow, on behalf of the Barrow and District Disability Association. For many years, Jenny has been teaching afternoon students on a dressmaking course there, and hundreds have benefited from her skills, patience and encouragement.

Jenny has been constantly supported by Howard, who sets up the room and mends broken equipment, as well as teaching students on his guitar.

Mrs Burrow nominated the couple to mark a special year, which sees them celebrate 45 years of marriage and Howard’s 70th birthday.

Mrs Burrow said: “This remarkable couple show no sign of retiring from their massive contribution to the area and long may they continue because Barrow and surrounding towns would greatly miss their contribution to make people more capable and to believe in themselves.”