Essential food supplies have been donated to NHS workers at two local hospitals thanks to a family business.

Watts Farms, based in Aylesford and with sites across the south east, sent a lorry filled with goods such as milk, bread, tinned food and juices which were handed out to staff during their break at Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital earlier this month.

The family firm decided to make the donation to say thank you to health workers who are striving to save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ed Gray, a director at Watts Farms, said: "It felt great being able to directly help the NHS staff who are working so hard to fight the coronavirus.

"Before going into business I trained as a medic so I have a lot of friends on the frontline and I felt like I wanted to do my part and help where I can.

"We recently launched an online shop which we’ve had a lot of support for so we’re also offering a discount code for NHS staff which gives them free delivery.”

Doug Ward, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust director of estates and facilities, says the kind gesture was much appreciated by his colleagues who received the produce.

"Since the pandemic, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been inundated with offers of food from various local businesses - both big and small," he said.

"Donations have also been made to the Trust’s dedicated charity which is in the process of putting together care packages for its staff. The kindness that has been shown during these challenging times knows no bounds.

"Thank you to everyone who has shown their support in some way shape or form over the last few weeks. I can assure you your gestures have not gone unnoticed."

You can make a donation to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Charitable Fund via its JustGiving page. While NHS staff can take advantage of free delivery from Watts Farms by using the code NHSHERO.

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