A DELIVERY driver who provides meals for disabled, elderly and vulnerable residents across North Yorkshire and the North East has been praised for going "above and beyond."

Gary Foulkes, from Darlington, delivers meals from Oakhouse Foods to customers who are unable to leave home in the current circumstances or see friends and family.

Mr Foulkes said: "I deliver frozen meals to elderly and disabled people and before lockdown I would always chat to them and make sure they were ok. Lots of things have changed – but I still make time to speak to them all, now it is just from the driveway or even from my car or on the phone.

"Many of them are very lonely – they were lonely before this and now they can't see family and friends at all and it is difficult.

"I'm just glad I can check on them and listen to them for a while once a week. I love my job, all my colleagues are fantastic and we just want to keep doing our best for our lovely customers."

Mr Foulkes said he was left "speechless" when some neighbours of a customer clapped when he made a delivery.

He said: "Afterwards, I had to sit in the car for a moment. I was so humbled."

Visit www.oakhousefoods.co.uk.