AS VOLUNTEERS in West Devon pull out all the stops to help those without a support network, emergency food parcels are being distributed to people at home alone.

Help is being focused on those at serious risk if they contract coronavirus, who must have food and medicines delivered.

County council officials who would ordinarily be enforcing car parking — free during the crisis — have been helping delivering emergency seven-day packages of food.

‘Our absolute focus at the moment is to rapidly deliver vital support to our residents with the highest medical needs that put them at the greatest risk,’ said Devon County Council chief executive Phil Norrey. ‘The rigorous “shielding” measures include minimising interaction by staying at home at all times and avoiding any face-to-face contact to prevent being exposed to the virus.’

‘We’re working with our district and city council colleagues to make sure these extremely vulnerable members of our communities continue to get the food, medicines and additional care they need as quickly as possible.’

Meanwhile volunteers from the Okehampton Coronavirus – Covid-19 Support Group continue to provide a lifeline to vulnerable people.

Debra Travers, from the group, said on Monday evening: ‘I have just delivered some nappies and bits and bobs to a young couple who are self-isolating with their baby because they haven’t been very well.

‘We are finding that there are people who haven’t lived here very long and haven’t got a social network and people they can rely on.

‘We have found there are some people who are very scared and lonely, so we have linked them up with people who are happy to talk on the phone.’

She added: ‘I had one lady from Leeds who rang up in tears because her dad who lives locally is very deaf and can’t answer the phone. So we have linked him up with someone who lives close to him and can check on him and bring him bits of shopping.

‘It is so nice to see the community coming together like this. I didn’t realise we had so many lovely people living nearby. It is so uplifting.’

She said she was still concerned some people not online or with close support were still ‘falling through the net’.

‘Please check on your neighbours,’ she said. ‘If you know somebody elderly who lives nearby and you can help, give them a ring, or pop a note through their door offering help.’Meanwhile care workers continue to provide help in the community, visiting residents in their own homes.Carer Savannah Richards said: 'I work for Guinness Care in Okehampton and me and the team are working very hard during this time of the coronavirus. We are still providing full-time care to our customers. 'We are all concerned about the risks of spreading the virus but we are working very hard to ensure health and hygiene is on top form.'

Mayor of West Devon Tony Leech said the crisis had brought out a ‘wartime spirit’ and praised NHS workers and all those keeping essential services going.

‘We also need to thank all the community volunteers who came out to help those who could not help themselves, and this was well in advance of any central or local government being able to start the ball rolling,’ he said. ‘They are still the mainstay of the help that our communities need.’

The Okehampton Coronavirus – Covid–19 Community Support Group can be contacted on 07707 565612.