A scheme to help vulnerable members of the community in Princes Risborough has been a huge success - and even an MP has got involved.

The Risborough Basket opened on March 30 and is a joint effort between Princes Risborough Town Council, the Active Community Bus and local volunteers.

It offers free delivery of groceries from Princes Risborough shops to all residents in the town as well as Monks Risborough, Whiteleaf, Askett and Cadsden.

More than 500 orders have been delivered since the scheme was first set up - and it has been such a success volunteers have also set up the Risborough Basket fruit and vegetable box at the Princes Centre.

Volunteers will take orders for fruit and vegetables and deliver them alongside orders from local shops.

The service is helping provide a vital service - while also encouraging people to stay home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Buckingham MP Greg Smith got involved and helped volunteer with The Risborough Basket on April 17.

He spent the morning manning the phones and the early afternoon packing fruit and veg orders before setting out to deliver to residents.

Greg said: "The Risborough Basket is an incredible community response to the Covid-19 crisis, ensuring residents of Princes Risborough that are isolating are able to get fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other items from local stores. This is both a lifeline to people unable to leave their homes and local retailers.

"I want to pay tribute to the Mayor of Princes Risborough, Cllr Matthew Walsh, and his whole team for putting this initiative together in such a short space of time.

"It was a pleasure to be able to help out for the day and see first hand how hard everyone is working to support the community. This is the Great British spirit on display."

Councillor Alan Turner said of the scheme: “The idea behind The Risborough Basket scheme is to keep those vulnerable members of our community and others who are self-isolating stocked with fresh fruit and veg, whilst also helping to keep our local small retailers going by delivering their sales as well.

"It’s been a huge success so far, but it does require good organisational skills, lots of volunteers and someone to oversee the project with good links both within and outside of the community.

"Also, we mustn’t forget that we could be in this for a considerable period of time, so stamina and determination will be required.”