WARRINGTON Wolves star Chris Hill has given a free kitchen to a carer who has been working tirelessly on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Wire co-captain held the competition for key workers through his Immerse Bathrooms business as a thank you for their efforts.

After receiving hundreds of entries, the forward has now chosen Irene Basford to receive the kitchen free of charge.

Warrington Guardian:

Hill and Irene with, from left, Immerse's Peter Kindness, Christian Froggatt and Mark Beale

Not only has the care worker had to face the challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, she also recently had to shell out for a new car after hers was written off in a head-on crash.

Daughter Victoria Matthews nominated her mum to receive the free kitchen, which includes a custom design and fitting.

Prop Hill said: “We had hundreds of entries, probably around 500 nominations in all, but this one stood out.

“Irene in her 60s and has been working all throughout the pandemic.

“She’s a carer who does home visits.

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“Right in the middle of the outbreak, she was involved in a head-on crash and had to use all of her savings to buy a new car so that she could get back to work.

“This was something that really stood out to us – it was a really moving story, and that’s why we chose her.

“She’s devoted all of her time and effort to look after these vulnerable people, especially in these times.

“Without people like her, we’d be in a much worse position than we are.”

Irene, from Latchford, found out she was the lucky winner when she was taken for a surprise visit to Immerse’s showroom on Crossley Street, off the Cockhedge roundabout.

Hill, 32, said: “Victoria was ecstatic that we could do this for her mum because of all the time she’s given up and all that she’s done.

“Irene was probably more shocked that anything – she didn’t know she was coming down anyway, so she was struggling to take it all in.

“But her and her daughter were both made up.

“It will be her dream kitchen, and it makes it even better if you’re not paying for it.

“It’s been a tough time for us and we had to close the showroom for quite a while, and the plumbing side on things dried up as well.

“But it has been a tough time for everyone.

“We’re trying to make the best of a bad situation and trying to give a little bit back.”

And Great Britain and England international Hill is hoping to give Wolves fan Irene something else to cheer about when the Super League season resume next month.

He added: “Irene is dying for the rugby to come back, as everyone else is.

“There’s a bit more excitement in the air now that the fixtures are out and we’re back at training.

“Hopefully the rugby coming back will bring a little bit of normality for people.”