Elderly or vulnerable Morrisons customers in Cumbria now have a dedicated telesales service they can rely on, with each store in the county now equipped with a delivery van to get vital supplies to those most in need.

Customers at branches of Morrisons in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Whitehaven and elsewhere are now able to place orders for next-day deliveries of essential groceries via a dedicated hotline set up for those least able to shop for themselves during the coronavirus outbreak.

The essential items they can choose from include milk, butter, eggs, potatoes, pasta, bananas, cornflakes and flour.

Customers receiving these items can pay on the doorstep upon receipt of their items.

David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: "We are playing our full part in feeding the nation and ensuring those that are most in need can receive a delivery from a familiar face at Morrisons.

"This new telephone service will ensure that more people who can’t leave their home to go shopping will be able to get a delivery.”

Morrisons community champions - staff at each store dedicated to helping their local customers - will be identifying customers who are in particular need of support, offering help via a postcard through their door.

Customers will be able to ring them directly if they need their shopping delivered.

To help support the new service, Morrisons has invested in a van for every one of its 494 stores so that colleagues can drop the shopping off on a customer’s doorstep.

Customers who want to place an order should phone 0345 611 6111 and select option five.