A COMMUNITY have showed their thanks for business owners who went above and beyond to help their community during lockdown.

Landlords of the Mowden Pub in Darlington, Simon and Rachel Leadbetter, have been flooded with cards and gifts after they spent the last 11 weeks cooking and delivering free homemade food to vulnerable people at the height of coronavirus.

The pair were able to buy ingredients through donations and used the pub's kitchen to batch cook meals which were then delivered across Darlington with a team of helpers including Jeanette and Alex MacMurry who own Maggie's Place restaurant in Darlington.

"We finished the deliveries last week, it's come to a natural end now with things getting a bit closer to normal," said Mr Leadbetter.

"Residents at Sir E.D. Walker Homes, which we frequently delivered to, were beyond grateful for our support and we were very touched to receive their cards, flowers and chocolates."