'High risk' Sheffield couple urge people to check on their vulnerable neighbours during the coronavirus outbreak

The couple are both considered ‘high risk’ and particularly vulnerable if they were infected with the disease, due to their age and health conditions.

Anne, 75, has Crohn’s disease while Larry, 77, is asthmatic.

They have been self isolating since the government instructed elderly people to stay at home for the next three months in an attempt to slow the spread of the infectious virus.

Larry, a retired retail worker, is worried about people who live alone and wants the public to reach out to their vulnerable neighbours.

"It's a very sad and worrying time for people who don't have immediate family and friends to check up on them - especially those on their own who can't get out at all,” he said.

"I understand there's lots of people willing to volunteer to help.

"I think it's really really important that people check on their neighbours and knock on people's doors.”

The couple thanked their own neighbours for offering to run errands for them.

"They put notices through the door saying 'anything you want just ring us and we'll see what we can do' which is brilliant,” Larry added.

"They are just wonderful, we only know them by passing them in the street or whatever and they come to your help - it's just brilliant.

"It just makes me feel full of belief in human kindness again because until something like this happens you don't think about it really and it makes me feel thankful.”

Larry and Anne have also received help from family, who delivered food shopping to stop the couple venturing outside and made regular calls.

“I haven't felt lonely, we've got each other so for us it's ok,” he said.

“We can shout across from the gate to our neighbours and have a chat that's about 15 or 20 metres away.

"But it's just people that are on their own, who it is a real struggle for.”