STAFF who had been working tirelessly at a Hexham GP surgery and supermarket were thanked with food donations from a local business.

Karen Robinson, the owner of Top Nosh sandwich shop, had to close her business on Haugh Lane Industrial Estate on Tuesday, but she ensured her food did not go to waste.

After Lindsay Lowes, who works for Red Engineering, one of Top Nosh’s regular customers, made the suggestion of delivering the food to NHS staff, Karen made up sandwiches and took them to Burn Brae Medical Group.

“They have been working really hard, doing so many hours,” she said. “It was quite emotional - myself and one of the receptionists were pretty close to tears. One of the doctors said what a lovely gesture it was and I got a message afterwards from one of the nurses.”

Last Friday, Karen also took cakes to Hexham’s Aldi store. She said: “I shop at Aldi every day and some of the abuse that people are giving the staff because of the limits on items - even though it’s not their fault, it’s what the Government has said - is shocking.

“People forget that they are working so hard and I wanted to do something to cheer them up.”