Coalville businesses are being thanked for donating food and essentials included in care packages distributed to vulnerable residents across the district during the coronavirus pandemic.

North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) is creating and delivering the parcels and the donations from local businesses have been crucial to the effort.

The vital deliveries are in addition to the incredible work being done by the support network of community groups across the district.

Coalville-related businesses involved include:

• Everyone Active donated food from its Whitwick and Ashby leisure centre cafés and vending machines
• Nestlé, which has a distribution site in Bardon Hill, contributed 100 cases of items including chocolate, cereal bars, cold drinks, coffee and toddler food
• Amazon, which has a warehouse in Ellistown, donated the boxes for the care packages

Duncan Gibb, Everyone Active North West Leicestershire contract manager, said: "As an integral partner to NWLDC and key stakeholder within the local community, Everyone Active are committed to supporting the council in their community support efforts, whether that be through the utilisation of our staff or the provision of food to support families.

"Members of our team have also been out undertaking shopping on behalf of local residents, as well as supporting the council's waste services team, and we are delighted that the vending stock that we recently issued has been well received by local residents."

Councillor Richard Blunt, leader of NWLDC, said: "We are here to support our communities including our most vulnerable and the shielded who may not have their own personal network of support required to get the essential items they need.

"These care packages provide those necessities, eliminating the need for them to go out and put themselves at risk.

"Thank you to all of the local businesses that have donated to the cause - our North West Leicestershire community is really pulling together during these challenging times.

"A huge thank you also to the many other community groups in the district doing outstanding in looking out for those in need at an even more local level."

Residents in need of support can visit NW Leics Community Support to find out more about help available.