RESIDENTS in Blacon are proving that community spirit is alive and well by rallying together to help the elderly and vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis.

A Facebook group – Support for our vulnerable in Blacon – has been set up and joined by more than 600 people, with those who are most in need receiving vital food donations and supplies.

The community has even worked together to provide a temporary repair on a damaged TV aerial at the Nant Peris high rise flats.

Residents are either posting to raise awareness of a person in need or messaging to ask for help themselves, with the group confirming each time someone had received support.

The group was set up by agency support worker and carer Kim Bates – with support from friends Ashlie Chadwick and Steven Knox – who is coordinating the response while juggling 14-hour shifts.

She said: "I'm very proud of the Blacon community – we always look out for each other. I am worried about elderly and vulnerable people sat in their homes not able to get out and people not able to get to them.

"People are scared and I thought what can I do? This page was easy to set up. We've had lots of donations. The community has been looking after the community, and it's worked so far.

"I will carry on for as long as I need to. We had one lad fix the aerial at the top of the high rise flats. For a lot of people in the high rise their only company is their television. They have no one to turn to.

"We also had someone who walked a lady's dog. Different things are happening left, right and centre."

You can join the Support for our vulnerable in Blacon Facebook group by clicking here.