A FAMILY run firm has helped a North-East food bank to prepare for winter and the wet weather by installing an area of hardstanding outside its base.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, those picking up food parcels from Thornaby Food Bank, based in the town's Baptist Church, can no longer enter the premises but must instead queue outside.

They must stand on a grassed area, which has the potential to turn into a quagmire with the arrival of wetter weather.

But family run firm Scott Bros came to the food bank's aid by creating a hardstanding area where people can wait while socially distancing to receive their parcels.

Peter Scott, director of the Stockton-based firm, said: “Having a food bank based in the area is very important for people who find themselves in need.

“This is even more important in current times with people facing redundancy and facing financial hardship as the government’s job retention scheme starts to come to an end and firms are affected by issues surrounding Covid-19.”

Thornaby Food Bank is an independent community project, which is run entirely by volunteers and which relies solely on donations.