JUST as it did when the market burned down, or when the town was rocked by Covid, Northwich’s community spirit is shining through adversity again.

Storm Christoph’s devastating impact has forced a number of residents to be evacuated this week – including those in houseboats, elderly residents at Weaver Court, and households in Acton Bridge.

But it should not come as a surprise that once again the community is stepping up and making sure people are not left without food or shelter.

Community groups including Northwich Community Support have teamed up with Cheshire Food Hub to make sure residents affected by the floods have enough food.

Billie Pickstock, of Northwich Community Support, told the Guardian: “All the local community groups are working together. Between us we have raided supermarkets – and they have been absolutely amazing.

“We have been considering what we can do and how we can do it. We worked out what we need and we teamed up with Cheshire Food Hub to distribute food.

“We will support Cheshire residents as long as they need it. There have been lots of people evacuated from their homes, in Warrington as well as Northwich and elsewhere, far more than 100.”

Billie praised the community for the donations they had made to help make sure people forced to flee their homes had food to eat.

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Meanwhile, Northwich businessman Ben Kershaw generously paid for every hotel room at the Slow and Easy for a week, for people who need somewhere else to stay.

Lauri Pass, who runs the hotel, says other members of the community have also made donations.