• Hastily arranged collection point in Ashby proved the demand for food and essentials is there

• Started after a shopping search for grandmother who had been in hospital

• Bowling Green pub in Ashby agreed to store supplies and accept donations

• Facebook page has been set up with a website on the way

• Those involved have never set up any charity work like this before

• They want to help people who may be struggling to get to shops during Coronavirus outbreak

A Help The Elderly Ashby de la Zouch group has been set up in the space of just a few days to get supplies to those most in need during the Coronavirus outbreak.

The group has been started by three people who have never been involved in charity work before - and it was born out of a desperate search for shopping for an elderly relative last week.

And now they are appealing for more donations as the spread takes a grip on the country - after arranging a collection point in Ashby in the space of just a few hours.

Now they believe there is a desperate need to help those who may not have the same access to shops and supermarkets that others do.

They want to gather as much food and supplies as they can during the current crisis - particularly as deliveries to care homes are now being threatened by the spread of the bug.

The scheme is the brainchild of Chris Hart and Phil and Nicole Soar who staged collection points in Ashby on Sunday and Monday.

That proved so successful that they decided to turn it into a service for senior citizens in the town with the Bowling Green Pub accepting donations at the moment.

Chris explained: "On Friday, my grandma went into hospital, she had a mini-stroke.

"She came out of hospital and my granddad went looking for food, couldn't find any so me and my mum went looking. We had to go to five or six stores.

"So, on Saturday morning I thought 'What can I do?', and on Sunday I put a post online asking if anyone would be interested in a collection point and it went from there. I posted it at 10am, by 2.30pm it was set up."

Phil gave an example of the people who were looking for items.

He said: "A lady came up and said she needed toilet rolls, she couldn't get up to Tesco or Aldi.

"So I gave her a load of toilet roll, that's all she needed.

"It just shows the people who can get out, but can't always get to the out of town supermarkets."

Nicole added: "A lot of people have carers but no family. They rely on their carers."

Phil said he and Nicole joined up with Chris after seeing his Facebook post.

He added: "Since then we've got things set up and it's gone well.

"Hopefully it gets better. None of us have done anything like this before."

Nicole added: "We're just normal people trying to help a little bit and make a difference to someone."

What Ashby Needs To Know

But Chris says it is not just the three of them who have contributed.

He added: "The Bowing Green's bent over backwards for us and allowed to store things there. And donations can be made there.

"Also, Marlborough Rovers gave us two big tables to use.

"Blue Little Birdie are doing all the printing for us, fliers and posters to help with distribution.

"The Mind charity shop gave us some chairs to sit on over the weekend.

"Tesco, Co-op and Boots also helped us. Paul Monk the landlord at the Bowling Green, and Richard Brown, the manager, have as well."

The result is the Help The Elderly - Ashby de la Zouch Facebook page Help The Elderly Ashby de la Zouch

Nicole added: "We can get leaflets to the carers who can pass them on and people can get in touch with us. We won't have physical contact with the people because of the health risks.

"We can leave a care package on the step. People don't have to open the door to us, we'll tell them to expect stuff to be delivered. They can tell us what they need."

The aim is to set up a network that can be used to help people in the area after the Coronovirus spread has eased.

To contact the group, email: [email protected] or phone 07562 708833/07857 630055/07904 405858