WHILE the competitors have rightly claimed most of the headlines during the Olympics, there are thousands of unsung heroes and heroines – many from this region – who deserve a medal for making the Games run like clockwork.

Service personnel from Wattisham and Woodbridge were forced to re-arrange their lives at short notice to boost security at the Games after G4S failed to find enough staff to guard the games.

Their presence, in full uniform, helped to reassure visitors – and also give the forces a high-profile role which allowed the public to show how much they value their contribution to society.

Just six months into its franchise, rail operator Greater Anglia rose to the challenge of getting people to and from the Olympic Park with few problems.

Many people were travelling to east London at the same time as commuters and other regular travellers – but the early planning worked well and there were few problems on the trains.

And the volunteers who have given up their time to take part in the Olympics have been the real heroes of the Games – whether they have been “Games-makers” helping visitors find their way around the park, drivers ferrying athletes and officials around London, or the extras who made the opening and closing ceremonies so memorable.

Being so near London, this area has provided more than its fair share of these volunteers – and they can all be proud of the contribution towards making the Games such a success.

They all deserve a medal – gold and shining.