DEVIZES Town Hall has become the hub for a volunteer group set up to make sure the vulnerable and elderly do not feel abandoned during the coronavirus emergency.

In the space of two weeks Devizes COVID 19 Support has become a well oiled machine with the town council offices turned into a call centre for those who need help.

Last week there was just a single line into the helpline of 01380 722160 but now there is call-centre style set up with multiple lines.

The group led by Devizes Churches Together and the town council with vital support from Wiltshire Councillor Laura Mayes and the vicar of St James Church Dr Keith Brindle has hundreds of volunteers who are linked by a Whats App group.

Town clerk Simon Fisher said: “We have come along way in a short space of time. We have had to get organised very quickly and we are refining our processes all the time to make them more efficient so as many people can be helped as quickly as possible.”

Cllr Mayes, who is Wiltshire’s cabinet member for public health, is proud of the way her home town has rallied to the call.

She said: “Devizes is doing fantastically well to support people in its community as are villages such as Urchfont and Rowde.”

The group’s next goal is try and make it easier to get prescriptions.