CORONAVIRUS is bringing people together on Portland in a huge community response to coronavirus.

Over 200 volunteers are helping the Island Community Action group coordinate support for people aged over 65 - although they won't turn anyone away and are also supporting people on the mainland if needed.

The group was started during 'peacetime' before residents became embroiled in the war against coronavirus and originally ran over 20 different support services including befriending, help with shopping and community transport.

Kim Wilcocks, who is leading the group, said she and her fellow organisers - a team of four - decided to stop all existing services and activities before the country went into lockdown, pre-empting the need for a different kind of support.

"We were really worried our clients and other older people in the community would be isolated and without shopping or unable to get their prescriptions so we started offering that service to them instead," Ms Wilcocks said.

"We've been doing everything from standing in queues to get prescriptions for an hour or more, to going out and getting shopping.

"It's been fantastic, we have been overwhelmed by how positive people of all ages have been in coming forward to help."

Island Community Action works with other groups, including Portland churches, and Portland Town Council, social services and Age UK.

"I have to say although been a difficult situation, a challenging situation, it is fantastic the way the community has pulled together," Kim Wilcocks added.

"Unfortunately that doesn't lessen the heartbreak for families who have lost a loved one, but there might be positive things to come from this too, if we can all examine our own lives and realise what's important."

Kim said she hopes people will start to change their thinking as a result of the crisis, reconnecting people and putting more power back into the hands of workers.

She added: "Many solutions are now coming from the community.

"We mustn't forget how important we are as individuals within that community, and the importance of the people working in our supermarkets, the NHS, collecting the bins.

"We hear some wonderful stories from people who end up telling you their life history.

"It sounds old fashioned but we laugh a lot - that's really important."

For support call 01305 823789 or visit islandcommunityaction.org