The owner of a 20-year-old Jeep Wrangler has received a Local Hero Award from Pirate FM for towing a stranded 40-tonne truck that was stuck in the snow.

The articulated lorry had been stuck at the side of the road in heavy snow and was blocking an ambulance with a patient on board.

Mark Blessed, of St Austell, Cornwall, tethered his Wrangler to the stricken truck and helped haul it to safety.

It was one of several vehicles that he helped out of trouble during a night of heavy snowstorms in Cornwall, earlier this year.

Blessed received his accolade last Friday (April 5) at Tregenna Castle in St. Ives. As well as the Local Heroes award, he was also recognised by Jeep UK who sent a new spare wheel cover for his Wrangler and other Jeep gifts.

Picture caption: (L-R) Pirate FM presenter Neil Caddy, Mark Blessed, sponsor Matt Townsend, Pirate FM presenter Lucy Start

“Somehow my little Jeep managed to tow a 40 tonne lorry and let him go on his way,” said Blessed. “So many people were standing and cheering – it just goes to show how one little thing that you do affects so many different people along the way. I just did a good deed, not to be recognised.”

Holly Day, from Pirate FM, said: “We were inundated with nominations for hundreds of very deserving people in Cornwall, but Mark really stood out as the epitome of a good neighbour.”

The new Jeep Wrangler is now on sale, priced from £44,920 (OTR). To read more about the new model, click here.

More articles on: