A Coalville community group helping vulnerable people in the area during lockdown has gone from strength to strength in the space of just five weeks.

Hugglescote, Donington Le Heath and Coalville Community Response Hub, carry out shopping and other errands, while cooking hot meals twice a week during the Coronavirus crisis.

The idea started out on the Peggs Grange estate in Hugglescote when Jade Edwards began running errands for her mother and then deciding it made more sense to shop for other people living there during lockdown.

But it soon spread to other roads and towns and now group is cooking over 100 meals for people twice a week - thanks to volunteers and public donations from people who recognise the work they are doing.

The meals are cooked by Jason Knibbs of the Coalville Education Partnership.

And last week, they joined forces with the Masjid Umar Evington Drive Mosque in Leicester who donated 100 food parcels due to supplies that would not eaten during Ramadan.

Jade says it is a service that is desperately needed at a time when vulnerable people are isolated.

And she hopes to continue the group when restrictions are eventually eased.

Jade told Coalville Nub News: "We started about five weeks ago, what happened was that I gave everyone on my mum's estate a leaflet with mum name and number on so I could get shopping for 30 bungalows rather than having lots of people going out during lockdown.

"It stated like that, I was out shopping for a few bits for myself anyway and I didn't mind.

"But someone asked if I could get some things for a lady on the estate who didn't have any family and I knocked on her door, offered her some food and she cried.

"She said no-one had ever given her a gift since she was little.

"I asked others and said if they were struggling, then I could get a meal to them. All they had to do was let me know."

But Jade explained that things then began to expand rapidly - and sparked another idea.

She added: "A few more people heard about it and people were asking if I could get something to their grandparents in nearby roads.

"I'd been doing it on my own for about a week and a half and then I started to get volunteers coming forwards to help.

"Then I started what turned out to be a marvellous idea called Adopt a Street.

"It means a volunteer can get in touch with me and if a street isn't covered, then they can adopt it.

"Donations mean we can now have leaflets printed and we have gloves, masks and aprons from the community.

"I've set up security measures and people can then contact me to ask for what they want or simply to talk.

"It's got bigger and bigger. We started with every single street in Hugglescote, then Donington Le Heath and then the council got in touch with us. But I told them nobody was doing what we were doing.

"Now we're doing Coalville and there's probably only about eight streets there we haven't leafleted yet.

"We've got six streets in Greenhill covered and the same in Ibstock and Ellistown, We do all of Bardon as well. It's become huge."

Jade admitted actually cooking the meals was an issue until the CEP became involved as well.

She explained: "Jason cooks our meals after getting in touch, we were desperate for a kitchen, I couldn't do if from home as you need to be properly registered.

"But Jason said his kitchen at Memorial Square was still open and he can 100 meals twice a week which is an absolute Godsend."

And Jade said the offers of help continued to roll in as the weeks went on.

She added: "Dave Underwood got in touch with me from Yellow Cabs and he said e could use our taxis for deliveries and won't charge us a penny.

"I phone them, they pick me up and go and collect 100 meals. Then I meet up with Gemma Stevens and Paul Martin and we go round and deliver the meals between us.

"It takes us three or four hours, we don't just knock on the door and go, we have a natter with them as they might not see anyone else until the following Tuesday when we go back.

"This will continue after the crisis, we plan events and fundraisers."

But the group teamed up with the Masjid Umar Evington Drive Mosque in Leicester as word spread about the Coalville Hub.

Jade said: "They've been doing it for quite a few years and with it coming up to Ramadan they are giving food out to struggling communities.

"I contacted them, and they said they would give us 130 food packs. They came up in two carloads - and I have never met such amazing, focus-driven people in all my life.

"They came back two hours later cooking us another 100 chicken biriyanis. I could've cried. We took them out that night. Now they want to keep in touch and help us grow.

"I just want to thank all the people who've volunteered and donated."