Farncombe Day Centre staff pulled out all the stops to help their clients during lockdown, setting up a hot meal delivery service almost overnight - and last week hit a milestone with the delivery of their 2,500th hot dinner.

Told by the Government to close on Friday, March 20th, the day centre staff rallied round over the weekend, and by the Monday they were open, offering a hot food delivery service.

"We weren't prepared to just stop and close and have all our people going without a hot meal," said centre manager Annette Clarke.

The centre also took over the Meals on Wheels service from Waverley on July 1st, merging the two services into a new Community Meals Service.

Staff now deliver as far afield as Chiddingfold and Milford as well as to clients in Godalming and Farncombe. "We supply a hot two-course lunch, Monday to Friday," Mrs Clarke added. "We started out doing eight to 10 meals, and now we do around 41 a day. We have been working the bank holidays as well to make sure they get their food delivered to their door." The meals are delivered by staff in the day centre minibus with the help of two volunteers who stepped forward to help. "For people who haven't got any families at all it's been a godsend," said Mrs Clarke. There is still no news, however, on when the centre can reopen to clients, although the chiropody and hairdressing services are now operating, with staff and clients wearing PPE. "We haven't a clue when we are going to reopen," said Mrs Clarke. "It depends on the Government guidelines and whether it's going to be feasible. We don't want to say we will open and then we get a spike and then it goes wrong." To join the Community Meals Service and have meals delivered call the centre on 01483 426685: each meal costs £6.50. Hairdressing and chiropody services can also be booked on this number.