Pandemic crisis inspires volunteers to help elderly and vulnerable across Burnley Padiham and Pendle

Hundreds of food parcels have been dropped off for residents across both towns.

And the teams have been so successful they have been able to reach out to people in Nelson, Colne and Accrington as communities go into lockdown, at the orders of the Prime Minister, to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Volunteer Karen Ingham of Padiham said: "We have some amazing volunteers who have been working non stop to help so many people across the area.

"And we have received donations of food items from so many generous people and also businesses including the Spar in Todmorden Road and Bookers in Burnley."

Karen launched the initiative through a facebook group she started a number of years ago to tackle anti social behaviour in Padiham. She came up with the idea to print off hundreds of posters for people to place in their windows if they were in the most vulnerable categories to make the public aware.

She then teamed up with Burnley based social media group Look After Your Neighbours, launched by B J Welsby, and since then volunteers have been a lifeline to so many elderly residents.

Following government guidelines the volunteer team, spearheaded by BJ, Declan Anderson, Kelly Decruz, Amber Pearson and Phil Procter, are continuing with their food drop offs for as long as possible.

The teams have also been helped by community champion and Burnley plumber James Anderson and anyone who would like to donate any food items can drop them off at his business premises, DEPHER in Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley.