A NEW delivery app is helping keep the high street in Urmston alive and also providing much-needed essentials for local people amid uncertain times with the coronavirus crisis.

While people have been housebound on lockdown and struggling to get food deliveries from supermarket chains for days, Shocal is still fulfilling local product orders with same-day, hourly delivery slots.

The app started as an idea shared between Urmston neighbours, NHS developer Max Thorley and Ashley Washington.

They soon became a trio when Lance Knight joined forces and they were worried about the effect of big brands on local businesses.

Their appp has focussed purely on Urmston businesses and customers, with no grand plans for the hyper-local offering. But the lockdown has changed things dramatically as traditional supermarket delivery services have been logjammed with people stock-piling.

While some local centres have been struggling, retailers in Urmston offering services on Shocal have still been able to connect with the community and customers.

Lance said: "We have seen a real need as the high street is struggling and we wanted to help independent retailers."

More than 4,000 are now signed up and to find out more go to Shocal.org