A couple have been leafleting homes in their own neighbourhood offering to pick up shopping and prescriptions for the elderly or disabled.

Naz and Sara Bashir, who live in The Foreland in Canterbury, decided to step up in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and try to help people living nearby keep safe and well.

Their offer comes as the government considers restricting people over 70 to their homes to avoid coming into contact with the infection.

"We are just trying to do our bit to help in the spirit of being neighbourly during these difficult and challenging times," said Naz, 51, who runs a start-up bio-tech company at the Discovery Park in Sandwich.

"Sara's dad is in his 80s and we keep a close check on him and do a bit of shopping for him.

"It was actually our daughter Sofia who suggested we should look out for other elderly people in the street, like we do her grandad.

"That got us thinking that we live in an area where there are quite a few older people who, if restricted to their homes, may not have anyone close by who can help.

"So we drew up a simple little note offering to help collect things like groceries and prescriptions, which we have posted through about 70 letterboxes."

Naz, who is also a trustee of the Canterbury Muslim Cultural Society charity, says that already some neighbours have responded gratefully with thanks for the offer of help.

"Just to get those messages back that it was appreciated was quite heart-warming," he said.

"Supporting our neighbours in these difficult times is something we have also discussed as a charity and other members are doing similar things in their neighbourhoods.

"If we all look out for each other, it can help us get through this."

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