HIDDEN among twisting Exmoor lanes, Wootton Courtenay,with its elderly population, was expected to be hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

In fact, only days after the national lockdown was imposed, the village had set up a highly efficient support system for its vulnerable residents which is now being copied by other West Somerset rural communities.

“There is an extraordinary community spirit in Wootton Courtenay which has resulted in over a quarter of people immediately volunteering to look after those who are unwell or self-isolating,” said project manager and IT expert Bill Hodgson, who masterminded the scheme.

Under the Good Neighbours’ Plan, the village is divided into six zones containing a total of over 50 volunteers and co-ordinators who take on jobs ranging from dog-walking, making and delivering food, to shopping, collecting prescriptions and making social contact on the phone.

The village store has been forced to close but manager Andy Giles takes orders for food and goods which are supplied by wholesalers, and Minehead farm shop owner Stuart Lowen lives in the village and can deliver.

Read the full feature in tomorrow’s Free Press - and let us know what your community is doing during this unprecedented time. Nominate someone to send us your village news at [email protected] - ideally with some photos.