A COMMUNITY centre is helping to put fresh fruit and vegetables on people's dinner tables despite the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Sutton Centre, based at Kyffin Place in Holme Wood, has been handing out the boxes to around 20 families in need who are all Clarion Housing tenants.

It followed on from a project to provide essentials such as dried and tinned goods to around 40 families, said Sam Kirkby from the centre.

"These go to families that are finding it difficult during the lockdown. They don't have to be on benefits - they could be on a low income or 'working poor'."

He added that they continue to operate a food pantry.

The funding for the fresh boxes has come through Clarion Futures, a charitable arm of Clarion Housing, which has around 600 homes on the estate.

Matt Parsonage, of Clarion Futures, said: “Organisations like the Kyffin Place Community Centre are lifelines to many people who have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, helping to put healthy and nutritious meals on the table. We’ve supported them for some time through their food pantry, but have recently provided an additional grant from our Emergency Support Fund to ensure they can meet demand and deliver food and essentials to residents in the local community.”