Porlock looks after its own. Whether it’s fighting – and winning – the battle to keep its fire station, campaigning for a defibrillator or organising its own flood-watch, the village’s almost-legendary community spirit can be relied upon to kick in the moment crisis looms.

So not surprisingly, only hours after the country went into lockdown, Porlock had rolled out a plan to support a community in which over 40 per cent of residents are over retirement age.

Since then, the army of volunteers has grown to nearly 120 and the Porlock Community Initiative Helpline, set up by the parish council and Porlock Visitor Centre, is available six days a week, from 10am to 12.30pm.

And Kitnors’ Tearoom in Bossington has delivered surprise cream teas “to make the lives of people, especially those in isolation, a little happier”.

Read the full feature, and see more photos, in tomorrow’s Free Press.