A VEHICLE hire company has lent 50 luxury motorhomes to the Royal Blackburn Hospital so key medical staff can stay on site during the coronavirus outbreak.

Priory Rentals, of Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, has taken the campervans up to its car park as temporary accommodation for doctors and nurses on the front line of the battle against Covid-19.

The vehicles will allow staff to rest and recuperate without the risk of cross-infection with their families.

And other local firms have rallied round to supply the motorhomes with fresh water, toilet rolls, tea and coffee.

Priory Rentals owner Emma Carter, 39, and her staff wanted to do something to help local NHS staff and realised that the 70 campervans on their forecourt could be the answer.

She offered 50 to the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust and was delighted when they took up her offer.

Then Bolton civil engineers AE Yates Ltd installed a new water tank on the car park, Blackburn’s Star Tissue and the The Black Dog pub on Union Road in Oswaldtwistle supplied toilet roll and kitchen towels while a Ribble Valley community group provided tea and coffee.

Miss Carter said: “We just wanted to do something so offered 50 of our motorhomes to the hospitals’ trust.

“We were delighted when they bit our hand off.

“It’s better than them being on our premises.

“It has done wonders for our morale and community spirit in the office.

“Our NHS staff are on the front-line against coronavirus and deserve all the support they can get.

“Many of them can’t go home if they have family members self-isolating. The motorhomes give them somewhere to rest and put their heads down on site when they come off shift.

“We have delivered them to site and have people on hand to ensure staff can use them with ease. The motorhomes are luxury and no older than 2017. We are sure they’ll provide something of a home from home for these incredible staff.

“I am delighted we have been able to do something to help the doctors and nurses at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“And thanks to those others who have joined in. It has been a real community effort.”

The news of Priory Rentals amazing generosity and dedication to local NHS staff comes as the Lancashire Telegraph’s ‘Support our Guardian Angels’ campaign takes off.

Local newspapers across its parent company Newsquest are joining together to raise money for NHS Charities Together and their urgent Covid-19 appeal.

The Lancashire Telegraph is asking its readers to extend their support to the heroes of the NHS, letting them know people care and are thankful for everything they are doing - just as Miss Carter and her company are with these motorhomes for the Royal Blackburn’s doctors and nurses.

Kevin McGee, EHLT’s chief executive, said: “This agreement between ourselves and Priority Rentals is a fantastic example of us working with local businesses to support our NHS.

“Having the motor homes on site has been a real boost and is a great solution to what is going to be a really pressing problem.

“This will make a massive difference to us and means that our staff, who may have to sacrifice time at home with their families and loved ones, can stay in comfort and safety in an extremely convenient location – our car park!”

Readers can also give to the East Lancashire hospitals charity ELHT&Me at www.elht.nhs.uk/charity/donate