The weekly "applaud the NHS" initiative has been used as a novel way of collecting tinned food for a Congleton food bank during the coronavirus crisis.

It has been so successful a church leader has asked for other streets in the town - and further afield - to take up the initiative.

Residents on the new build Blossom Gate estate have started leaving tinned food outside their homes before the applause starts.

After everybody has finished clapping, the tins are collected and delivered to a food bank run by the New Life Church.

Church leader, Stephen Hodgkinson, a retired bank manager said: "This is an excellent idea and one which I would love to see copied all over Congleton - and anywhere else for that matter.

"Our food bank has been running for over 10 years and while it is particularly vital at such a bad time for the world, we have always done what we can not only for the homeless and destitute but also single parents."

The collection of tins began days after the Blossom Gate residents started a Facebook group.

The collection is organised online by the group's administrator, Rebecca English-Williams, who also does all the fetching and carrying with her husband David.

Mrs English-Williams, (38), works in internal communications and employee engagement for the Four Seasons Healthcare group and is a former single parent.

She said: "I came up with the idea after seeing a plea from the food bank. Many families are suffering from a lack of food during this crisis.

"I have a number of friends who are key workers and are out there every day helping others.

"But I am pregnant, so I am unable to help as much as I would like to because I need to isolate.

"I am new to the area and I feel community is very important, particularly at a time like this when we all need to pull together as much as possible to help each other."

Mrs English-Williams joined Mr Hodgkinson in hoping her idea would catch on, adding: "I hope many other communities will do something similar.

"The Blossom Gate residents deserve a huge thank-you for their generosity."

Another resident, retired journalist Tim Taylor, said: "My job has taken me and my family round several parts of the country, but I have never lived anywhere like Blossom Gate.

"You can almost feel the warmth of the neighbourly spirit here and it was no surprise when there was such a good response to Rebecca's initiative."

Over the Easter bank holiday weekend, a YouGov poll was published, commissioned by the Food Foundation and the FFCC (Food, Farming and Countryside Commission).

According to the poll, 1.5 million people have reported going a whole day without eating since the lockdown started.

The poll says six per cent of the population - more than three million people - have had someone in their household skip dinner.

Anybody who would like to help the New Life Church can ring Stephen Hodgkinson on 01260 297961.