Community spirit remains strong in a Ryedale town where businesses have rallied round to help older people.

Residents at Bransdale View have been overwhelmed with support from its close-knit community in Helmsley in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

Bransdale View is part of the national Housing 21 group and offers independent living with access to on-site care for people over the age of 55.

It is a mixture of one and two bed apartments, and is home to 48 residents, in Helmsley.

It has only been open for a year but staff say they have experienced kindness and generosity from local businesses in the past week as well as dedication from its employees who have gone above and beyond.

There are strict measures in place to ensure residents are kept as safe as possible from the virus, including the closure of the onsite bistro and salon, and only door fob holders such as residents and staff are able to enter the building.

The extra help which has been offered to restore some normality for residents has been vital.

Direct Imaging, a Malton business, travelled 20 miles to drop off more than 300 toilet rolls after hearing that many of the residents could no longer get out to go shopping for basic necessities.

Thomas the Bakers delivered treats for the residents such as freshly-baked bread, scones and cakes.

Meanwhile, staff on site have been busy walking residents’ dogs, keeping them company from a safe distance, while their family are unable to visit, and assisting residents to place food orders from Helmsley shops that are offering deliveries to those in need.

One member of the Housing 21 team, Anne Gordon-Hartley, spent hours seeking cleaning supplies for residents due to shop shortages.

Anne has also loaned some furniture items and a TV to a new resident who has no furniture, to help him stay entertained and comfortable through the isolation.

Andrea Brazil, housing and care manager at Bransdale View, said: “I’ve been amazed by the support from the community, it’s lovely to see. We’ve even had members of staff coming in on their days off to help because they knew we would be busy.

"We’re really focusing on keeping community spirit high and ensuring residents have things to do, supplying them with crosswords and games. The court will be holding an Easter bonnet competition with a twist this year, asking residents to use what they have in their apartments and to leave their entries on the shelves outside of their homes to be judged.

“We’re extremely proud of receiving a CQC rating of good in our first report this March, an amazing result for a brand-new scheme and certainly down to the teams terrific work. We’ll be striving for outstanding next year.”