A LAKES school and parish centre have combined to deliver hot meals during lockdown.

Windermere School is working in partnership with Ambleside Parish Centre offering hot lunches to people in rural communities during the coronavirus lockdown.

The weekday meals are prepared in the independent school’s kitchen by chef Jane Kirkpatrick.

The Patterdale Road school linked up with the Ambleside Parish Centre through Cumbria County Council and the meals made possible by donations and grants received by the Vicarage Road centre.

Meals were delivered to 24 households in the first week, 36 the week after and a whopping 68 turkey dinners went out last week.

The scheme is available for residents of Ambleside, Grasmere, the Langdales and Hawkshead. Negotiations are underway to see if there is a need in Coniston too.

The cost for two courses is £3 or free to those who have lost their income. They can be picked up or delivered by a volunteer.

Anyone interested can contact admin@amblesidepc.org.uk.

Julie King, head of Elleray Campus, said: “Many of the meals are for members of our community who are unable to shop or find available funds during this difficult time."

Ambleside butchers Garside, has donated Cumberland sausage, and the YHA of Coniston, Windermere and Lakeside, frozen, catering sized meals, which will help extend the scheme.

Also helping out is Ambleside restaurant Kysty which has offered the use of its kitchens to prepare a free vegetarian soup and roll to those without income on a Saturday and Sunday lunchtime.

Soup will be put in reusable insulated cup containers, donated by local businesses, including Electricity North West.