WHILE supermarket shelves were stripped bare amidst the panic engendered by the coronavirus earlier this month, shops serving their rural communities were pulling out all the stops to ensure that residents didn't go without - food or a sense of connectedness and continue to do so.

Three shining examples of local village shops going the extra mile are Pontrilas Post Office, Ewyas Harold Village Store and Hopes of Longtown.

In Pontrilas a delivery service is ensuring that essential food supplies reached everyone - bread, sugar, coffee, tea and fresh vegetables - and they are also providing hot meals as deliveries. "We are making individual pots which will last for two or three days - beef or chicken stews with potatoes and vegetables," explains Sonia Cary, director of Care Herefordshire which provides these services out to its communities from Pontrilas.

Currently they have been delivering to people in Pandy and as far as Allensmore. They will also pick up and deliver prescriptions, and are compiling a 'telephone buddy' list.

"We are doing what we can to ensure that people feel valued and loved and know that we are in it together," says Sonia. "At the moment, we have a good action plan that's working exceptionally well.

"It's absolutely heartwarming to see how people have rallied together to ensure that needs are being me."

For more information contact Pontrilas Post Office on 01981 240235.

Also in the Golden Valley, the village shop is delivering groceries "to anyone and everyone" three times a week.

They have also set up a newspaper delivery round within the village confines, and are, says owner Bennie Krige, "trying to keep our shelves full."

"Quite a few people have volunteered, though we haven't needed any of them yet. At the moment we are managing well ourselves, and all our staff are fit and well but if one of them does go off, the challenge will be keeping the tills manned.

"If everyone does their bit, we will beat this thing, but if people are oblivious and selfish, we won't," he adds.

In Ewyas Harold, butchers Mailes and Neil Powell are also offering a delivery service.

"We are in the fortunate position of having a short and trusted local supply chain, this means that we can meet demand as required, and keep our shops fully stocked with the vital provision of nutrient dense food!" says Ben Powell at Neil Powell. "We are offering free local delivery throughout Herefordshire and Monmouth - orders@neilpowell.co.uk / 01981 240000."

In Longtown, Hopes have also introduced a delivery service, taking live orders by phone and delivering later in the day. "

We have about 10 volunteers," says Christine Hope, "and last week we met with a couple of other people and set up the Ewyas Lacy group, which has 12 volunteers and they will be able to help local residents with any problems they have."

Christine adds that they will also do their very best to meet any special dietary needs.

In terms of where they will deliver to, Christine says "we haven't put any specifics on it.

We are just doing a delivery service. The priority is to make sure everyone is calm, fed and looked after."