Cheddar's community spirit is shining through as volunteers and villagers unite to support each other via a coronavirus help group.

Julian Sayer, Mike Belch and Simon Childs set up the Corona and the Cheddar Valley Community Facebook group connecting people in need, feeling unwell or self-isolating, with volunteers willing to help with errands, shopping and picking up prescriptions.

The group now has more than 1,500 members, and a card featuring a hotline number is being distributed to all households in Cheddar, Axbridge and Weare to connect with people not online or on Facebook - though people from further afield are able to volunteer and ask for help via Facebook.

Simon said: "The hotline is manned by 15 fantastic volunteers with a multitude of skills from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, managed by Amit Shah.

"For every request for help we're getting numerous offers of help from enthusiastic local people. The people in need and volunteers generally sort out payments for purchases between themselves, however cash transactions are not appropriate if the person in need has been exposed to coronavirus or is vulnerable/isolating.

"Therefore we can take card payments by phone or BACS from people in need and, separately, reimburse volunteers via BACS.

"We're also establishing a fund to cover people who are unable to pay either due to hardship or not being able to access funds. The community spirit and goodwill generated is amazing."

To contact the group visit www.facebook.com/groups/coronacheddar/ or call the hotline on 0333 772 1934.