A FLEET of volunteer vans will be back out on the roads in West Clare supporting those who may need extra help as Level 5 restrictions return in an effort to control Covid-19.

Miltown Malbay man Stephen Downes ran the initiative last March, and said that he hopes once again to support the community over the dark winter evenings.

“People face new challenges this time around because we’re hearing into the long nights and cold days,” Mr Downes said. “There’s a lot of fear around and some people don’t like going out if they’re elderly or at risk. Once again, we’re offering to collect shopping for people and deliver it to their doors. We’ll drop around and pick up a list and do our best to help ensure that people are looked after.”

The decision to go back out on the roads was prompted by news of the return to Level 5 restrictions. “We really need to try to pull together again,” he said. “People are feeling uncertain about who they’ll cope and we’re trying to do something once again so that people don’t feel alone in all of this.”

In terms of the area the team is willing to cover, the West Clare man said: “We’ll keep going until we run out of road. We’ll consider any call that comes in and do our best to respond.”

Mr Downes can be contacted on 085-1310464.