A Middlesbrough restaurant is appealing to other five star hygiene rated food outlets to join them in offering food packages to residents during the coronavirus crisis.

Oven, based in Linthorpe Road is working with Middlesbrough Council, Boro taxis, Makro Teesside, George Bolem and other businesses in the area to get food to elderly and vulnerable people, NHS workers and James Cook Hospital.

They will be sending out care packages with toilet rolls and ready meals which include meals cooked by the Oven restaurant using only fresh ingredients – there will be no frozen meals.

Tarek Thomas, owner of Oven restaurant is now appealing to other five-star hygiene rated restaurants to get involved.

He said: “We are producing 1,000 meals per day – we can do this from our kitchen, we have the capability and the space.”

The meals will be £5 per person and will be delivered by Boro taxis who have 1,200 cars.

Tarek is also offering 100 meals free of charge and 50 per day to James Cook Hospital. He has already started delivering to the hospital.

Tarek has also been working with Boro Taxis to create an app to help the distribution.

It will be a cashless scheme and no contact will be made with the customers in order to minimise any risk of the spread of covid-19.

“Boro Taxis will be provided with face masks and hand sanitiser, there will be no cash, payment will go through Paypal. Delivery will be charged between £1 to £3,” Tarek said.

There will be a lunch and dinner service.

Tarek is also looking to create a website so that people can easily access the packages.

He said: “For the £5 meals 10 per cent will go to the most in need or NHS staff.”

The food will be nutritious and healthy and there will be four choices which will change daily.