A CHARITY founded by a ex-Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen which normally works mainly in Sierra Leone has been helping out in East Lancashire during the coronavirus outbreak.

Former councillor Salim Mulla founded Aid 4 Ummah in 2014 to work in Sierra Leone after an Ebola epidemic.

The charity, registered in 2015, has been providing free hot meals, sanitisers, fruit and chocolates to ten care home across East Lancashire, including special Easter deliveries.

One recipient was The Hazeldene Residential Home in Ribchester Road, Wilpshire, Blackburn.

It has also been working with the Salvation Army to support the homeless and helping dozens of vulnerable families with food and essential supplies during the Covid-19 lockdown.

In Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest countries, it has built and orphanage, medical centre and several schools, dug wells for clean water and provided medication for the needy.

Mr Mulla, Mayor of the Blackburn with Darwen Borough in 2013/2014, said: "Charity work is about making a real difference by improving and changing the quality of people's lives.

"As human beings we have responsibility for the desperate and vulnerable.

"Currently we are living in unprecedented times . We all have to take full responsibility by keeping safe.

"Our heroes locally are in the NHS, care homes, and supermarkets as well as other key workers during this pandemic crisis,

"We as an organisation have an open door policy to anyone out there who is suffering or requires any essential items

"They should get in touch with our office. Together we will get through this crisis."