Having been in the newspaper game herself, Marie Toshack understands the importance of a community newspaper.

She is among the 16 or so people who have taken advantage of the Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group's (BWNG) offer to deliver the newspaper each week along with their hot lunch.

"I thought it was a brilliant idea," Marie said. "It's wonderful, especially for older people."

Since newspaper delivery ceased in Gloucester, many residents have needed to either take a trip into town to purchase one or pay a little extra to have it posted.

When COVID hit, BWNG, which runs the Meals on Wheels service in Gloucester, took it upon itself to restart the service for some of the community's most vulnerable residents.

"BWNG believes a community paper such as the Gloucester Advocate plays an important role in keeping the elderly connected with their community," Meals on Wheels coordinator, Jamie Neilson said.

The organisation realised that delivering the newspaper was not only an extra service it could quite easily provide to its clients each week but that it was also a valuable one.

"We identified that it was sometimes difficult for our clients to get down the street to collect the paper.

"Also, in the COVID-19 social situation if we can save them from having to venture out in public, it is another way in which we can keep them safe."

Volunteers deliver meals at lunchtime from Monday to Friday every week. The meals are freshly-cooked hot meals, frozen ones that can to heat up later or a combination of both.

At present there are between 25 to 30 people receiving meals weekly. The service also extends to people who may need to receive meals temporarily while recovering from medical treatment or who need help with meals while their carer is unavailable.

As of Wednesday, August 19, the organisation had delivered 7151 meals to the community.