Volunteers in Llanidloes helped keep an Easter tradition alive during the coronavirus crisis by delivering free fish and chips to people on Good Friday.

In keeping with the Good Friday tradition of eating fish, Llanidloes’ older and most vulnerable residents did not lose out this year despite Covid-19 restrictions as they had free fish and chips delivered.

Llanidloes Covid-19 Support Volunteers delivered free fish and chips to 300 people across the Llanidloes district.

The volunteers were supporting an idea from Evans Fishbar to brighten up the day of some of the town’s residents.

The local fish and chip shop has been closed for a couple of weeks, due to safety reasons. However, they opened their doors especially for this effort.

Volunteers from the town were co-ordinated by experts in health and safety, to ensure timings between collection, social distancing and other stringent measures were in place.

Chris and Lorraine Evans, of Evans Fishbar, said: “We wanted to do a random act of kindness, to let people know they have not been forgotten.

"We needed assistance from the volunteer group and other organisations to nominate recipients to receive the lunch.

"We then needed the support of the volunteers to help with the deliveries, to make this happen and the response from Llanidloes Covid-19 volunteers to do deliveries has been overwhelming."

The free fish and chip delivery is yet another voluntary initiative from volunteers in Llanidloes and the area in response to Covid-19. They have been active since 16 March.

Clare Bound, of Llanidloes Covid-19 Support Group, said: “The initiative from the fish and chip shop is an amazing generous act, and our thanks to Chris and Lorraine from Evans Fishbar. So many people from the town have come together to respond to this challenge, it has been truly humbling.”

The volunteer group in Llanidloes have been going above and beyond during this crisis to help keep people safe and connected.

From setting up a telephone system to printing over 3,500 leaflets to deliver locally.

Llani Pantri has also been set up as a foodbank, to respond to those whose who need help.

A prescription delivery service set up in liaison with health services and PAVO, using the support network’s volunteers has also been set up and the local GP is helping provide advice.

Local businesses are also helping with deliveries across the large geographical area of the Llanidloes area, as well as a pay-it-forward scheme to help businesses survive this crisis.

A team of 14 befrienders has also been set up for anyone feels isolated and needs to chat, they know there is someone available at the end of the phone.