EAST AYRSHIRE Council have delivered 16,000 meals for families in need.

The council were fast to provide the essential meals for children who normally receive school meals.

It comes as the council step up their resilience plans to help tackle coronavirus in East Ayrshire.

More than 80 community groups have come forward to help with things like shopping, transport, collecting prescriptions, dog walking or simply providing a friendly ear to help people who are isolated due to the current crisis.

An army of council workers have also stepped in to help, with hundreds changing their roles to take on alternative work in order to provide cover and help keep essential services running and communities safe.

A number of businesses have also joined the effort, with food and much needed supplies.

Cafes, coffee shops are delivering food to residents doors, whilst grocers are keeping East Ayrshire fighting fit with drop offs of fruit and veg boxes.

East Ayrshire Council have praised the effort to help tackle coronavirus.

A spokesperson said: “We know that our communities will be concerned about the current situation with coronavirus.

“We also know that a great community spirit exists in East Ayrshire and that our communities are pulling together to help families, neighbours, loved ones and those who are most vulnerable.

“We want to make sure that everyone in our communities is looked after as well as possible in these challenging times, and we thank each and every volunteer and staff member who is helping us to do this.”

Visit www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/coronavirus for more information on how we you can help to support your community.