Volunteers in the Gorslas area have been thanked for their efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillors Darren Price and Aled Vaughan Owen issued a thank you message to local volunteers and businesses who have supported elderly and vulnerable residents in the Gorslas ward during 2020.

At the start of the first lockdown in March, the two councillors set-up a local volunteering scheme in Gorslas to help vulnerable residents with tasks such as shopping, collecting prescriptions and a befriending service for those who were lonely. Over 70 people volunteered to help across the villages of Gorslas, Cefneithin, Foelgastell, Capel Seion and Drefach.

They also thanked the local shops in Gorslas, Drefach and the Cwmmcerrig Farm Shop for providing deliveries and click and collect services to local residents, and the Smiths Arms in Foelgastell and Mansel Arms in Drefach for providing takeaway meals for residents.

They have now called on local people to continue to support local businesses during the next few months - particularly the Smiths Arms in Foelgastell and the Mansel Arms in Drefach.

In a joint statement, the Plaid councillors said: “2020 will forever be remembered for being one of the most challenging years that people have faced. The restrictions that have been placed on people’s lives have been difficult, but we are very pleased in the way that local people and businesses in the Gorslas ward have responded.

“We were overwhelmed that over 70 individuals signed up to our local volunteering scheme to help support some of our most vulnerable residents and we would like too thank each and every one of them for doing so.

“Local shops have also gone the extra mile in providing delivery and click and collect services which have been a huge help.

“It has been a really difficult year for the hospitality industry across the country but the Smith Arms and Mansel Arms have managed to keep going and have provided beautiful takeaway meals during these difficult times. We would urge people, particularly during the quiet months of January and February to continue to support these pubs so that they can continue to serve the local communities into the future.”