A Greetham care home worker named one of Rutland MP Alicia Kearns' unsung heroes of the week should be making last minute preparations for his wedding this Saturday (18 July).

Instead Simon Smith, assistant manager at Oak House Care Home, is laying decking in his back garden as part of a project to create a sensory playground for his children - two of whom are autistic.

The wedding Simon and his fiancée Vanessa have been planning for almost two years has had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Oakham couple will also be missing out on their week-long honeymoon - their first child-free get-away in eight years together.

"I was supposed to be off work for two weeks as we were due to get married at the register office in Oakham on Saturday, followed by a celebration for more than 100 guests at the Catmose Club," Simon told Oakham Nub News.

"Then we were heading to Majorca for a week-long honeymoon while a dear friend looked after our four children.

"But coronavirus has put paid to that and, instead, I've just taken this week off to make the finishing touches to the playground in the garden for the children to enjoy.

"The good news is that we've set a new wedding date of 17 July next year."

Simon successfully manages to juggle a hectic home life with the job he loves at Oak House, where he has been assistant manager for seven-and-a-half years.

"It's fair to say we've got our hands full at home with four children.

"I have my 18-year-old step-son Connor and 13-year-old step-daughter Rhiannon as well as Morgan (7) and Samuel (6) with Vanessa.

"Connor has autism and is completely blind in his right eye and only has five percent vision in his left.

"Morgan is also high on the autism spectrum.

"And Samuel was born with transposition of the great arteries - where the two main blood vessels leaving the heart are switched - requiring a life-saving operation shortly after being born. He may need a further operation in the future.

"But, fortunately, I like to keep busy."

Every week, MP Alicia Kearns announces at least one coronavirus 'Unsung Hero' award, raising awareness of local people going the extra mile.

As a thank you, Simon will receive a certificate of recognition, a badge and be invited to an event once the pandemic is over.

During lockdown, Simon's selfless acts have included allowing elderly residents with sight impairments struggling with video calls to use his own mobile phone to enable them to keep in touch with their families.

He also organised for the children of a dying resident to say their late-night final goodbyes to their father and providing them with PPE to do so safely.

After his passing, Simon enabled them to break the sad news of his death to their mother, who is also a resident.

Later, on his day off, Simon took the elderly lady to her husband's funeral service.