CARE home residents with learning disabilities and complex needs have been overwhelmed by support during the coronavirus pandemic.

People living at Blamsters Farm, on Mount Hill, have been receiving donations of items from Halstead residents and businesses for a new pop-up shop.

The shop has been set up in the home’s summerhouse.

It aims to give residents the chance to continue enjoying shopping during the lockdown.

TLC Care and Support, who run the care home, spent £150 stocking the shop with sweets, crisps, fruit and drinks before appealing for item donations from residents through Facebook.

Within hours the shop received offers of CDs, jewellery and games.

Project manager Mandy O’Halloran said: “Our residents loved exploring Halstead and its shops before lockdown, so our new Over the Rainbow shop means they can safely enjoy browsing the variety on offer, thanks to kind local businesses and individuals.

“We help one resident at a time at the pop-up shop in order to carefully monitor social distancing measures and it provides them with a welcome change of pattern.”

The care home also recently put up a rainbow display to showcase residents’ art in support of NHS staff during the pandemic.

An outdoor bowling alley was also built by care worker Sam Raz, using materials donated by Halstead businesses after weekly bowling trips were cancelled.

Mandy added: “Our activities wouldn’t be possible without the support of individuals and businesses over the last three weeks.

“This includes Tesco in Braintree that agreed the bulk purchase of 200 Easter eggs provided by TLC central support team and delivered to the services on Easter Sunday, KFC in Braintree donating cooked chicken meals, plus the Hook fish and chip shop in Halstead donating over 60 fish fillets.

“We would also like to say thank you to Sainsbury’s in Halstead who rewarded our staff with bouquets of flowers, Eareys Butchers in Sible Hedingham, Lidl in Halsted and Prima Catering – as well as our staff for going above and beyond to ensure everyone has a good food supply.”