Ribble Valley volunteers deliver medicines to the doorstep of rural villagers in lockdown

Colin Darlington (71), of Bolton-by-Bowland and his team of volunteers - Helen Dakin, Gilly Armer, Cath Johnson and Sheila Mitchell - have been acting as couriers for drugs and other essential items.

They have been delivering medicines direct to people's homes in remote Ribble Valley villages - obviously adhering to social distancing rules!

Colin, who was lived in Bolton-by-Bowland for 41 years, explained: "Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pharmacy at Clitheroe Medical Centre has been closed. Prescriptions for patients living in outlying villages and in remote locations is being distributed via village hubs throughout the area surrounding Clitheroe. This imitative has been put in place by the doctors practising from Clitheroe Medical Centre and I was approached and asked if I would act as the hub for Bolton-by-Bowland, Holden, Harrop Fold and the many remote locations close by."

Colin added: "The hub is based at my house in the middle of the village and I have a team of four volunteer local residents to help with the deliveries. The prescriptions are still prepared at the pharmacy and then delivered to me on a Monday morning and then my team deliver these to the various patients living outside the village or patients who are either housebound or self isolating. Patients who live in the centre of the village can collect them from my house if they prefer to. The prescriptions are all packaged at the pharmacy in sealed bags and any fridge items, controlled drugs, bulky dressings or nutritional drinks will be delivered direct from the pharmacy by their specialist staff. Government guidelines regarding social distancing are bring adhered too!"

If anyone requires further information about this valuable service, they are asked to contact Sue Brown on 01200 413584.