A Cumbrian family butchers has launched a new service as it continues keeping people stocked up with food during the coronavirus outbreak.

Cranstons, which sells fresh meat and a range of other produce, has launched a click and collect service, alongside its national delivery service and food halls.

Managing director Philip Cranston said it was still operating its foodhalls in Penrith, Carlisle, Brampton and Orton Grange, as well as its traditional shops in Penrith and Hexham.

“We are still encouraging people to go into the physical shops,” he said.

Perspex screens had been installed in till areas and people were being directed to follow social distancing rules, while there was also a limit on the number of customers allowed in the shops at one time.

“We have got a national courier delivery service and we are finding that is getting very backed up,” said Philip.

“We are currently taking bookings up until May 5.”

At the end of March, the company also launched a click and collect service from its foodhalls at Orton Grange, Penrith and Brampton.

As well as fresh meat, people can also order other grocery items such as fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, bread and other essentials.

“It’s completely contactless,” said Philip.

“A member of the team takes the order to the open boot of the car and the customer closes the boot so they don’t even touch the car.”

Currently the service was operating from Tuesday to Saturday, dealing with 115 order slots a day.

“If the demand is there we can scale it up and scale it up again,” he said.

Philip said the business had the advantage of short supply chains, which meant it was not running out of products like some supermarket chains.

“Because we are buying direct from the farmers and dealing with the local abattoir it’s not put at risk by a situation like this,” he said.

“We are not out of stock of anything at the moment because we produce all our own deli goods.

“There’s not a single item off range.”