A childminder has raised more than £4,000 to help NHS staff at Darent Valley Hospital have a meal during this stressful period.

Tara Biggs, from Singlewell, Gravesend, set up the Go Fund Me page last week and smashed her target of £600 in just a few days.

So far the 30-year-old has managed to buy almost every ward a huge meal from the pizza chain Domino's.

She said: "My mum, Anna Andrews, is a nurse at A&E and as a 58-year-old it's really scary for her and everyone else about the risks of going into work and possibly being exposed to the coronavirus.

"It's a hard situation for everyone but I decided to do my bit for everyone that's on the front line.

"I set up the Go Fund Me page so everyone as a community could chip in and support our NHS workers.

"I only set the goal to £600 as I know how tough things have been for people at the moment with work, but we've raised so much and I'm blown away by people's kindness."

So far, Tara has helped deliver orders to the majority of the hospital wards and have been enjoyed by staff in ITU, Palm ward, Beech, Linden, Chestnut, the porters, security, and the delivery suite and midwifery wards.

The childminder isn't the first helper to set up a Go Fund Me page.

Sheree Dean also raised over £900 so the Darent Valley staff could enjoy deliveries from Pizza Hut and J. Coxedge Fish Shop.

Tara said: "We've been making deliveries for the day and night shifts.

"I decided on using Domino's as I was thinking of a food that's easy to grab and eat and okay to eat when it's gone cold.

"We've also been using the chain as there are special discounts that can be applied.

"I spend about £300-£400 a time but thanks to online deals I only end up spending around £200."

To keep staff and delivery drivers as safe as possible, Tara ensures contact free delivery.

"When the Domino's delivery driver is at the hospital, I call each ward and they come to the reception and collect them individually at a safe distance.

"I think this whole thing is really helping them out.

"With everything that's going on at the moment they have to get changed in the staff room, wear all the protective gear and work long gruelling shifts.

"The staff barely have any time to think about food, so by delivering it to them, it really just gives them one less thing to worry about."

Tara is now looking for other suitable food she can send to the hospital wards, and is hoping to have some cupcakes made especially to order.

If you would like to help feed the NHS staff at Darent Valley Hospital, you can donate via the Go Fund Me here.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford