Kettering shopkeeper offering free delivery for elderly coronavirus self-isolators

A Kettering shop owner is doing his bit for those self-isolating because of coronavirus by offering a free delivery service.

Dilip Patel, owner of Hawthorn Store in Hawthorn Road, says the community needs to pull together to get through the pandemic.

More than 200,000 have been affected by the virus with almost 2,000 in the UK. Craig Ruston from Kettering became the youngest in the country to die from it this week.

Mr Patel says anyone who is over 65 and self-isolating in the Hawthorn Road area can now take advantage of free delivery.

He said: "This is not the time for thinking about making money. You just try your best to help people.

"I always think people should think about what they do for this country.

"If everyone thinks about that and does something to help others we can survive this situation."

He encouraged other shops to take part and urged customers to approach their corner shop to get them involved.

Mr Patel already has between 10 and 15 volunteers helping him out.

He said: "People are really appreciative. There's a great community spirit."

Currently 12 people in the county have tested positive for the virus, which started in Wuhan in China earlier this year.

Coronavirus is now sweeping across Europe with several countries in lockdown including Italy and Belgium.

The Foreign Office is advising British nationals against all but essential international travel with virtually all sport at all levels cancelled.

Locally Kettering's Odeon cinema and the Cineworld at Rushden Lakes are closed with several schools forced into partial closure because of staff in self-isolation.