THE first food parcels have been distributed to people who contacted a council’s new coronavirus 'Help Hub' for support.

It launched by Blackburn with Darwen Borough to provide residents who have no support networks around them to ensure they could get food and household essentials while they are in isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since it launched, the Help Hub has received over 500 requests for help from people in need and on Friday the first 250 food parcels were delivered.

The parcels, which contain enough food and drink for one week, are being packed and dispatched from a new food warehouse and distribution centre set up by the council with the help of Euro-Garages,

They are being delivered by borough staff, drivers from Travel Assist and Dial-A-Ride, and local taxi drivers.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We have a duty to support our most vulnerable residents during this very difficult time. Food parcels are being provided to people who cannot get out to buy their own supplies and have no friends, family or neighbours they can ask to help them.

“Setting up the food warehouse, a stock control system, a production line for packing food parcels and a transport system is a huge undertaking.

“A big thank you must go to Euro Garages for helping us secure warehousing facilities and to engage some of their supply chain partners including Sainsbury’s and Barnfield Construction, who have provided fencing at the site."