VULNERABLE residents in Bromborough have had a vital service restored after a former lecturer set up a fundraising recycling charity to reinstate meals on wheels.

With help from a grant from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia Community Fund, Val Hamlet raised the money by opening a charity shop to help recycle and sell bric-a-brac, pre-loved clothing and household goods.

The profits from the shop have now helped set up a pilot scheme which is now delivering to four local residents.

Val’s charity, Wirral Community Meals, received £2,800 to cover the first few months’ rent on their shop in Allport Lane, Bromborough.

She said: “It took 18 months and a lot of effort by a lot of people to get the shop open. It’s then taken time after that to start making money to get the service working again - but we’ve actually been able to start delivering meals now.

“The customers love it – they love the company and they love the food. We’ve started small and are delivering to just four homes but we’ll build up to 25 homes and then take it from there.”

Val added: “There’s always another challenge around the corner and we’ve had to make sure we comply with all the strict environmental health legislation about providing food to vulnerable people.

“We’re learning all the time but the good news is we’re now looking for more volunteer drivers to help deliver meals so we can build up the number of customers.”

MRWA chair Cllr Graham Morgan said: “Val is an amazing example of how a very small amount of public funding – and a huge amount of determination and hard work by volunteers can really deliver results. She’s a recycling inspiration.”