55 pallets of essential PPE are being delivered to Lancashire's social care services

The Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) has taken delivery of 55 pallets of equipment including aprons, gloves, masks and eye protection.

These are now being distributed to areas of 'greatest need' through councils, including adult social care providers such as nursing and care homes.

The equipment has been funded by Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council

The PPE supply is in addition to those stocks being distributed by the government, and further deliveries are expected in the weeks to come.

Kieran Keane, chief executive of Lancaster City Council, is responsible for overseeing logistics within the LRF.

He said: "These supplies will support people working in social care, as they work tirelessly to help some of Lancashire’s most vulnerable residents during the Coronavirus outbreak.

"We're proud that our LRF partners in Lancashire have been able to work closely together to make this happen.

"Obtaining PPE is challenging at the moment across the country, due to unprecedented demand.

"This supply will go some way to ease the pressures being felt by our public services, while we continue to identify and develop more robust supply lines.

"All partners within the LRF are working together to monitor existing and anticipated PPE levels on a daily basis, to ensure sufficient supplies are distributed to those most in need."

But the LFR said more equipment may still be needed, if the coronavirus situation deteriorates in the future.