A FAMILY-run catering firm has launched a fish and chip van service to help residents unable to get to the shops.

FW Catering Ltd, of Holt, is going back to basics by offering a mobile fish and chip service in local small villages.

The company’s service will cover Holt, Broughton Gifford, Shaw, Whitley, Purlpit, Atworth, Neston, Box and Gastard.

Managing director Wayne Barker said: “We’ve lost £50,000 worth of work in the last two weeks owning to events being cancelled.

“We are going back to basics by reaching out to local halls or clubs that could accommodate space for one of our four fish and chip vans as a hub for food collections for local people.

“All orders over £15 will be free delivery; however, for the over 60s due to the self-isolation restriction delivery charges will not apply at all.”

The firm’s plans for a three-day trial have already gone down well with villagers in Broughton Gifford, who flocked to try out the new service on Wednesday evening.

One resident, 74-year-old Mike Bailey, said: It’s a good idea. I saw it advertised on Facebook.

“It’s a long time since we’ve had a fish and chip van in the village.”

Mr Barker added: “It’s gone crazy. “We’ve had people in Colerne, Seend, Worton, Chitterne, Rudloe, Derry Hill, Hilperton, Staverton, Lacock, Pewsham and Corsham asking if they can have a service too.”

The service kicked off in Broughton Gifford on Wednesday and Neston on Thursday. The firm’s vans will be in Gastard on Friday and at Shaw on Saturday.

Meanwhile, another local businessman is offering to help residents unable to obtain next-day food deliveries from their local supermarkets.

Nick Walden, 32, of Ashton Farms in Bowerhill, Melksham, is offering to extend his wholesale food delivery service to local residents.

Shoppers unable to get to their local supermarket or obtain next-day deliveries will be able to choose from 2,000 essential items.

They include locally produced eggs and egg products, butters and spreads, cream, milk, yoghurt and custard, cheeses, sauces and mayonnaise, pickles, vegetables, pasta, olives, tomatoes, peppers and tinned vegetables.

Mr Walden said: “We are offering to fill the gap if people can’t get next-day deliveries from their usual suppliers.

“We are not profiteering. We will be selling the items at the same price at which we normally sell them.

“We don’t know if we will be innundated with orders, but if people order on a Monday it will be with them by Wednesday.”

Big national supermarket chains, such as Tesco, Sainsbury and Iceland, are planning to serve only elderly and vulnerable customers for the first hour on Thursday to make sure that the products they wish to buy are available to purchase.

The move follows panic-buying by shoppers over the past few days as the Government announced a three-month lock-down and urged people to stay at home wherever possible.

The announcement led to shoppers raiding the supermarkets, leaving rows of empty shelving for essential items.