A FLINTSHIRE pub is supplying free hot meals for NHS staff amid the coronavirus crisis.

Despite being closed to the public, The Red Lion, in Penyffordd, is running the scheme to help "keep NHS heroes fuelled" as its staff deal with the unprecedented health crisis.

Its team of volunteers are cooking the meals and NHS staff need only to alert staff that they are outside the pub and the meal is handed over.

The pub is also running a food delivery service for vulnerable and self-isolating people, and fed over 1000 people last week alone.

Originally, the plan was to provide free Sunday dinners for NHS, but the scheme has now been rolled out for everyday of the week.

The pub is open to hand out meals to staff between 12pm and 2pm and 5pm and 8pm, Monday to Friday, as well as 12pm until 8pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 7pm on Sundays.

Steve Saxon, Red Lion site manager, said: "The Penyffordd Red Lion is the heart and hub of the Penyffordd community so it came natural for me and my team to continue working on a voluntary basis to ensure local residents receive affordable, home cooked, hot meals to their door in a safe and controlled manner.

"Our team of volunteers have been outstanding throughout this whole ordeal and it’s a massive morale boost when so many NHS heroes turn up every single day to receive their free hot meals to keep them fuelled."

And Steve says the scheme has been gratefully received.

He added: "We're getting so many NHS heroes coming to get meals, particularly on the weekend it's pretty much one after the other.

"They're doing everything to help us stay healthy, it's just nice to do something to help them."