A HELPLINE set up by CancerCare to provide support to people isolated by the coronavirus outbreak has received more than 100 calls for help in just one week.

The charity, which provides free professional counselling and therapy for people affected by cancer and bereavement, set up the helpline ahead of its Kendal centre closing last week.

The helpline offers access to professional counselling over the phone and is also organising essential food and medicine deliveries to people who are eligible for CancerCare services but are unable to leave their homes.

The service, which is being run from the homes of trained CancerCare staff, had received to more than 100 calls by this Monday.

Chief Executive Maria Chambers said: “The vast majority of our work involves seeing people face-to-face so, while this is currently not an option, we wanted to give the people who need us access to services that will ensure they can still get the help they need in one way or another.

“We expect the numbers of calls to grow as social isolation continues to bite.

"We took a call last week from a lady who lives with her mum who has cancer. She was so relieved she broke down in tears on the phone saying she had felt so alone.

The helpline is open from 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday and is operated by CancerCare staff.

The charity is also offering other services including online counselling, distance reiki, online nutrition and is planning to launch an online mindfulness course in April.

The helpline number is 03330 150 628. People can also email: CancerCareCan@cancercare.org.uk. Or text: 07860 018 278