A catering supplier has launched a collection service for the general public as it responds to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ben McClure, sales director for McClures, based in Windermere, said it had been running a “call and collect” service for its products for about a week.

People are able to choose the items they want from the range on the company’s website, before coming and collecting them.

People can collect orders from its cash and carry in Windermere from Monday to Friday.

Orders are also being delivered to collection hubs at Flookburgh, Kendal, Ulverston and Broughton between midday and 2pm once a week so people can come and pick them up.

The collections days are on a Tuesday at Flookburgh, Wednesday in Kendal, and on Thursday in Ulverston and Broughton.

It is also offering a local delivery service around the Windermere area.

Ben said it is also developing a click and collect service so members of the public can place orders online, rather than just over the phone.

He said as hospitality venues in Cumbria had closed McClures had lost around 80 per cent of its trade, although it was still supplying hospitals and nursing homes.

The company had been forced to furlough some of its staff as a result.

“We have had to adapt and go to the retail market to move stock and keep staff busy,” he said.

“We were gearing up for a busy Easter and we were taking in extra staff in January and February, but this happened and we can’t afford to keep them all on.”

He said cashflow also had the potential to become an increasing issue, as its wholesale customers struggled to pay their bills.

Even when venues did re-open, the outlook was still uncertain, he said.

“I don’t think it is going to go back to what it was unfortunately, there might be quite a few casualties,” he said.

Full details of the service are available from McClures’ website.