North East retailer Barker and Stonehouse has come to the aid of fellow firms on Teesside while most of its operations are shut down.
The furniture retailer has donated vans and some of its drivers to help family-owned Coopers Chemists deliver medicines across Teesside.
It is also helping café Chadwick and Co to deliver ready-made meals to people in the area.
Managing director James Barker said: “As a Teesside business with roots in the area going back over 70 years, we’re glad to serve our local community.
“When the coronavirus hit and lockdown restrictions were put in place, we wanted to do our bit to support other businesses on Teesside.”
Meanwhile, the company has re-started deliveries, providing a limited range of items that can be delivered to people’s homes.
The firm, which has shops throughout the North and in London, had originally suspended all deliveries to keep staff safe during the coronavirus outbreak.
Now it has announced that it has started a limited service for items – most garden furniture and accessories - that can be delivered by a single person using contactless payments.
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Mr Barker said: “Over the last few weeks we have worked with our warehouse and delivery teams to ensure that we can resume a limited delivery service, which keeps our business running without putting anyone at risk.
“The products that we have made available for contactless delivery – garden furniture and decorative accessories - are all items that will help make staying at home that little bit more comfortable.
“The safety of our staff and customers is of the utmost importance to us and we will continue to follow advice from the Government and Public Heath England to ensure that this remains the case.”