STAFF at a busy distribution centre in Trafford Park are playing their part in getting vital supplies out to some of Greater Manchester's neediest communities during the coronavirus crisis.

The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), a charity with a major hub at Littlers Point, has specialised in providing bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and canned goods for deserving families since 2016.

But with distribution through community centres an issue, with the Covid-19 outbreak, the organisation has teamed up with East Lancashire based The Modern Milkman to ensure their packages can get through.

This has seen The Modern Milkman's agents swapping the streets of Burnley and Colne for Manchester's Moss Side, using funding provided by Manchester City Council.

Mark Game, head of TBBT, said: “The coronavirus is forcing us all to re-evaluate our ways of working to respond to those most in need.

“Normally we distribute through community hubs, and this work continues.

"But we are now expanding to provide a door-to-door service for Manchester’s most vulnerable who are self-isolating at home and unable to get out to get food safely.”

At their busy distribution warehouse, they get around 20 tonnes of deliveries, from various supermarket distribution warehouses, mainly from Morrisons, with stock including a small mountain of toilet rolls donated by Amazon.

Mr Game added: “They are being massively supportive while they have their own challenges. It’s not as if they have not been stepping up to help out.”

But as the lockdown continues, people lose jobs and apply for benefits, Mr Game estimates the rate of demand for the service will increase, with bigger premises and more volunteers needed.

Simon Mellin, managing director of The Modern Milkman, said: “Our drivers usually spend the mornings doing our regular milk rounds.

“Now we’ll be working through the day to pick up food from The Bread and Butter Thing and, in our fleet of 80 plus milk vans, we’ll be dropping the food bags to people who really need them most.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to better serve our city and our communities and look out for Manchester’s elderly, sick and isolated.”

One delivery agent is former tarmacadam layer Billy Holgate. Instead of delivering to doorsteps in the rolling hills around Colne, his hometown, the 23-year-old is in Moss Side, as part of a new Manchester City Council scheme to get food to those most in need.

Each household gets three or four bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and canned goods, donated by supermarkets and delivered by milkmen.

Leanne McDonagh, a 35-year-old mum with heart failure, on getting her delivery, said: "I can’t describe how much of a help it is."