A KIND courier is giving up her time to deliver essential supplies to vulnerable people in her area who are unable to leave their homes during the coronavirus outbreak.

Nadine Ann Joyce Varcoe, a Hermes courier, has been delivering slips with her contact details on through doors along her delivery route to help people get hold of essential items.

The courier from Rooksbridge was inspired to start the project after seeing elderly people leaving supermarkets with empty baskets 'looking bewildered.'

She said: "I took a friend of mine to Farm Foods a few weeks ago as she doesn't drive and the freezers were empty.

"I took a video of what it was like in there, we were gobsmacked.

"The turning point for me was seeing old folks with empty baskets looking bewildered. They left empty handed and we left in tears.

"I know I cant help everyone but I can certainly do my bit in my little area.

I already deliver between Ashton, Wedmore, Blackford and Theale six days a week so it makes sense for me to drop supplies to people who are isolated.

"Not everyone has Facebook so I figured printing leaflets would be more beneficial.

"I have been posting the leaflets through people's doors which have my contact details on so people can contact me if they need any shopping picked up and delivered.

"When people call and text me with what they need I pass that onto another courier as she does her list and while we are delivering between us we pass two dairy shops, three village stores and two farm shops we can source from.

"We'll drop it off the next morning while we are delivering our normal parcels in that area. I make no promises. But I do my best."

Nadine said she has distributed 380 leaflets to households in the area so far and has had calls from a number of people asking for help.

She said many people are 'emotional and scared' due to the coronavirus outbreak and couriers are now a big point of contact for people who are struggling.

"We are a big point of contact now.. the group of couriers in this area are all in the same boat," Nadine said.

"We keep working now not just to deliver parcels but to check on our customers.We are constantly shopping in the local shops for people isolated.

"A jigsaw puzzle doesn't sound essential but when it's for a single elderly woman alone that's her sanity and will boost her mental health.

"Now as couriers we come into our own and we are also helping on the front line so to speak."