THE owner of a food supplier has paid tribute to a South Lakeland couple who have kept spirits up and provided advice during the coronavirus pandemic.

John and Jules Natlacen run The Churchmouse at Barbon, near Kirkby Lonsdale. It is a village shop with a cafe and cheese counter and also runs a bistro on Friday nights.

Local man and co-owner of Udale Speciality Foods Ltd Neil Udale, along with wife Joanne, described the couple as ‘heroes’.

They commented: “The moment the news came that the virus had arrived in the UK, John and Jules were giving advice to their customers on how to stay safe - they even went round door to door delivering printed sheets - planning ahead as to how they could keep the village stocked with groceries, fruit and veg and all necessary goods to keep us all going.”

There is now a table set up at the front of the shop where orders and newspapers are left for collection, and Mrs Natlacen even wore the dress she got married in on Monday to cheer herself and other people up.