"A shining example of an employee who always goes the extra mile, often while working in difficult situations," is how Mick Cartledge, director of community services at Burnley council describes Steve Richards.

A ranger for 31 years, Richards, 52, has seen more of a broad section of Burnley's community than most, from dealing with missing toddlers, football revellers and capturing errant pet snakes, to risking personal safety in confronting anti-social behaviour like dog fouling, illegal off-road biking and worse.

Patrolling a large area of parklands, sports pitches and council buildings, Richards often works alone, on call and late at night.

"I've been assaulted a few times. Someone hit me over the head with a golf club once," says Richards. "Over the years I've seen guns, knives, fireworks, I've been snowballed. It's only a minority though, 98% of the people I'm dealing with are honest, decent people."

The worst time, he says, was attending to a man fatally stabbed after intervening in a fight in one of Burnley's parks in 2008. Richards administered first aid and monitored a still potentially violent situation before emergency services arrived.

"His son was there and two others injured. I didn't see the knife go in but I was there with him giving first aid…He was passing in and out of consciousness and wherever I touched him he was covered in blood. I can still see his face. In a huge crowd of people I'd still be able to pick him out."

While the experience shook Richards and made him think hard about personal safety, the opportunity to solve problems and to influence a positive outcome is more important.

For Cartledge, Richards' determination shows a "110% commitment to his job, way beyond what could reasonably be expected of any employee," often volunteering to help further in his spare time. For this, last year he earned the council's coveted 'employee of the year' award.

Although described as a "tough and hardened ranger", Richards has a softer side - full of laughter and anecdotes – on one occasion hosting a children's party after the group leader was locked out of a community centre.

"She was in pouring rain with a group of children and was clearly very distressed," says Cartledge. "Steve could have said it was not his problem - it wasn't - but this is not like Steve. Instead he arranged for them all to come round to have the party in the ranger base."

Richards, who says he has "a very understanding wife" and lots of help from the community, is clearly still bemused by his impromptu guests. "I was trying to keep that one quiet!" he says.

While dealing with anti-social behaviour is challenging, his love of the job has never wavered. "I've always been interested in working outside and with people and nature," he says. "This job has all those three. There's huge variety, never in 30 years have I had the same day. If you give me another 30, I'd do the same."

Jo Adetunji