A TEAM which was set up to help vulnerable residents through lockdown is to gear down its activities as restrictions continue to ease.

Buckley Emergency Response Team (BERT) has been volunteering across Buckley and Drury since March.

It has involved a collaboration between Bistre Emmanuel Church, Grace Church Buckley, Buckley Cross Methodist Church and St Johns United Reformed Church - as well as the Buckley Residents Facebook page.

Since setting up, the team has recruited over 100 volunteers and received more than 560 calls for help with a range of different matters including shopping, prescriptions and many others.

The project has now announced it is to "scale back" its operations but Gill Jones, administrator of the Buckley Residents Group on Facebook, said it is "ready" should another lockdown situation occur in the future.

She said: "We have had a lot of good feedback from people. "Those who have been isolating or shielding have told us we have provided an invaluable service to the community. "There was a big gap and we have filled it - it's been outstanding. "All of us are thrilled to have been able to support those who are most vulnerable in our community. "I'd like to say a huge thank you to the volunteers - without these people stepping up and dedicating their time to it, none of this could have happened.

"Lots of the volunteers have continued to help people so it has longevity and doesn't need supervision by us now that it is operating."

Speaking of the demand the project has seen, she continued: "I didn't think for one minute it'd be so big.

"In the first week we had about 100 calls - we only had four people who had put their phone number out there for people to call, so they were inundated and it was manic.

"It has been s steep learning curve for us all but we have been working under the umbrella of FLVC and have worked to their guidance regarding safety. "We are looking to scale back, but if we go into another lockdown, we are ready for it and know what to do. "We will be here again in the future and the churches are continuing to help people in their own individual way."

Buckley residents have been advised that BERT's services will end on September 1.

Those who are in greater need can call the Flintshire Single Point of Contact 03000858858.