THE deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council has pledged that money will not be a barrier to essential services being delivered during the coronavirus outbreak.

Councillor Gareth Dadd said while the government had promised to provide funding, the Conservative-run authority had established “a little pot for emergencies” about a year ahead of the deadlines for austerity cutbacks.

In a Facebook message to residents of his Thirsk division, Cllr Dadd, who is charged with managing the council’s finances, said its priority would be protecting the most vulnerable.

He said: “It will be an Easter that none of use ever forget, but I believe in some ways it has brought out the best in us locally as a civilised society.”

Cllr Dadd, who has been delivering vegetable parcels to those self-isolating, paid tribute to networks of support that have sprung up in recent weeks, and in particular Community Works, which has brought together Thirsk Community Care and The Clock.

He said: “They have worked tirelessly supporting vulnerable and at risk residents alongside the county council. For that we shall forever be in their debt.”

The councillor said it was also important to remember everyone in the community who are self-isolating, adding it “must be soul destroying” for those people.