Elderly people unable to leave their homes because of the risk of Covid-19 got a doorstep deliveries this week, from a team of police officers.

Police joined forces with charity Age Concern to deliver necessities to about 30 seniors who live alone.

Inspector Scott Devine, who organised the effort on Wednesday, said that the team travelled from Sandys to Devonshire and that it is likely the drop-off scheme would probably become a weekly event.

He added: “It was really heart-warming — I think a lot of these folks get deliveries from time to time, but their response to seeing a uniformed police officer show up in their front yard was really nice.

“Initially, there were a few houses with a bit of trepidation where people went ‘what have I done wrong?’, but they were extremely grateful and very thankful for the efforts of the officers involved.”

Mr Devine, who is in charge of the community policing department, said he volunteered his team after Age Concern announced there was a shortage of delivery drivers.

He said it was a good opportunity for parish constables, part of the department, to get more involved in the areas they worked in.

Mr Devine, originally from Scotland and a former officer in the Strathclyde Police, explained: “It was really good for the officers to meet their parishioners. That’s people they have now built a relationship with, that they can maintain and hopefully continue to check in on, now that we know where they are.”

Mr Devine said that Age Concern had packed the bags and chosen the delivery routes.

He added that the experience also helped boost the spirits of the parish constables.

He said: “For them to be able to go out and just do something like that — particularly to look after people who have come before us and the people who are the bedrock of the community — I think for all of us involved, it was just really heart-warming.

“It’s one of the bright spots in what’s been a pretty dark time for everybody worldwide.”

Roseanne Mienzer, the Paget parish constable, said she was pleased to be able to further her goal of helping seniors in her area.

Ms Mienzer added: “Just seeing that smile and the glow on their face is reward enough.”

Ms Mienzer said that she had only made one delivery and recognised the recipient.

She added: “Just seeing their face and realising that I do know them just lets me know ‘OK, this is where this particular senior lives and I can check on them more often now’.”

Adrian Haynes, the parish constable in Southampton, said that it was important to check up on seniors in the area over the Covid-19 crisis.

He explained: “You find that sometimes in the midst of when a lot of things are happening around us, the seniors tend to be left out. Being that they’re a vulnerable demographic, it was really good that we could collaborate with Age Concern to make them happy.”

Mr Haynes added he had delivered to three seniors in his parish — the first time he had met any of them.

He said: “The seniors were very appreciative of the gesture and they expressed their gratitude for actually coming and visiting them.”