A GROUP that has been helping people in Bramhope through the coronavirus crisis is preparing to wind down.

Bramhope Coronavirus Community Help has been assisting vulnerable villagers with everything from shopping to telephone calls for the past three months.

Now though, as COVID-19 restrictions are easing, the group has announced that it will disband on August 1 - the date when shielding restrictions, brought in to protect those most at risk, are set to end across England.

Local support is to continue to be available, however, through a ‘legacy’ group that is to be formed to make sure those who still need help can get it.

A Bramhope Coronavirus Community Help spokesperson said: “It is proposed that residents who still need support after August 1 are transferred to a new group, Bramhope Village Volunteers, which will be set up by the current administrators as a legacy group for the village.

“It will carry out the same activities as the current group but could also include, for example, recently discharged patients from hospital who need local support for a few weeks until they recover.

“This new group proposal is supported by Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council and will be advertised in their media.”

They added: “If we get sufficient volunteers this new group will run indefinitely and will initially be organised by the same administrators as the previous group.”