COMMUNITY heroes are doing their bit to support hard working staff and the vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak.

Dave Sanders, the owner of a takeaway chip shop The Flying Fish, which is based on the A422 in Worcester, is offering free food to ambulance service workers.

Mr Sanders, aged 50, said: “We have noticed more and more ambulances drive past.

“The shop is used regularly by the ambulance service to get between hospitals. For the cost of what it is to the cost of what these workers are doing it’s a no brainer.”

As it’s a takeaway shop, customers do not need to step inside a building, instead there’s a garden area where they can wait for their food to be served.

Mr Sanders, from Worcester, will also be offering fruit, vegetables and bread to anyone and he will only charge the cost of the product.

A Facebook group has been set up to help the elderly, vulnerable and single parents who are struggling to get food.

The Plate One Up and Pass It On (Worcestershire) group was formed on March 17 and has already signed up 1,086 members.

Toby Stringer, founder of the group, from Norton, said: “We are desperately trying to reach the elderly, vulnerable and single parents who are struggling to get food they need with the shops being low on stock. We don’t want anyone going hungry.”

Mr Stringer said he was inspired to create the group after spotting an elderly man in St Peter’s Tesco looking confused at the low stock.

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Mr Strinher said: “I asked if he was OK, he replied, ‘it’s all gone’ and wondered off bewildered. It was heart-breaking to see.

“I thought we could try and coordinate feeding these guys. If those that can cook up an extra plate of food and take it to someone vulnerable, we can get these guys fed.”

He added: “Let’s protect our vulnerable, not from the virus but from starvation. I will happily feed an extra mouth or two each evening so if anyone knows of any vulnerable people in this area who are struggling let me know.

“The idea is someone local supplies a meal to you each evening where possible when needed.”

If you’d like to get involved add yourself to the Facebook group and contact Mr Stringer.