The Montagu family has stepped in to help the most vulnerable members of their community.

The family, which owns Mapperton House near Beaminster, is providing home-cooked meals, free of charge, to those that need it the most.

Mark Pile, head chef at the Coach House café at Mapperton, is volunteering his time to produce a variety of ready meals - including a vegetarian one - on a weekly basis, from the Coach House kitchen. Members of the Montagu family will help package and deliver food.

The Beaminster Community Resilience Team is already in touch with many of the most vulnerable people in the town who are isolated or unable to make or receive fresh food and will be offering assistance directly to the individuals and families that may benefit from this.

All food containers are clearly labelled with ingredients, highlighting allergens and best before information.

Around 100 meals have already been delivered this week.

Sam Pearce, of the Beaminster Community Resilience Team, said: “The Beaminster community has truly come together in the most spectacular ways to ensure that nobody is left hungry and without support. Whether businesses have changed the way they provide goods, or whether volunteers have stepped up to get critical medicines to those who are unable to leave their homes, a true community spirit is very much alive and kicking in Beaminster.

“It has been so well received and the family have been so generous - it’s a great initiative from the Montagu family.

“We are very grateful for this generous offer of help provided by Mapperton Estate in supporting our initiatives to ensure our community is looked after, provided for and supported.”

If you feel this is for you or know of someone who is in need of meals, call the team on 01308 863634 or 07377 435186 after hours.

The Beaminster Community Resilience Team is also urging anyone in the community that needs help, or if you know of anyone who needs help during this time, to call them on the numbers above.

The team have been busy helping those in the community who need it most, delivering fruit and vegetables, shopping and medications to residents and helping businesses and pharmacies with delivering.

To find out more, visit discoverbeaminster.co.uk