A councillor delivered meals to the elderly and vulnerable for a national week of action.

Hertfordshire County Council's acting leader Cllr David Williams and Cllr Derrick Ashley, who is responsible for the environment for the council.

They joined the team at Hertfordshire Independent Living Service (HILS) on its Meals on Wheels round in Hertfordshire as part of National Means on Wheels Week.

Cllr Williams said: "This was a very valuable opportunity to meet local residents, meet the hard-working HILS team and experience first-hand, the challenges facing individuals living across our community.

"We are pleased to continue to support Hertfordshire’s community meals service, which has grown to become the biggest in the country.

"This service is not just about a meal – it helps reduce loneliness, improve health and maintains independence.

In the last six years, the council has invested more than £5 million with HILS, and they run a range of services to support more than 13,000 vulnerable people, having delivered four million hot meals for the past 10 years.

He added: "It also helps older people to live independently in their own home, which is not only good for them but saves money for the public purse with reduced GP and hospital visits and fewer people going into care."