NOTHING stops husband-and-wife delivery team Peter and Joan Church when it comes to making sure that meals on wheels are served up on Chandler's Ford tables.

So when their car broke down the dedicated duo did not get in a stew.

Instead they got on their bike to make sure that the daily dish got to their regulars in the Falkland Road area.

The couple are dedicated volunteer helpers with the borough council's meals on wheels service.

Two days a week they set off in their car to collect 20 meals from the special kitchens in Eastleigh town centre and deliver them to elderly and infirm residents in Chandler's Ford.

But a technical problem nearly landed them in the soup. Their car needed urgent repairs but the resourceful pair were undeterred and adamant that the meals should get through.

They phoned the civic offices to ask if the hot meals could be dropped off to their home so they could deliver them by bike and foot.

And the five-mile round trip was completed only an hour longer than usual.

Peter said: "Initially we were concerned that we might not be able to make the meal deliveries.

"But we did not want to let the local people down and decided to make the effort and do the round by bike. In fact it only took us a little while longer than usual and everybody received their meals."

This week Peter, 71, and Joan, 69, were still waiting to get their car fixed.

But by using two wheels and plenty of shoe leather they were making sure that the wheels kept rolling on their meals on wheels round.

And another Chandler's Ford meals on wheels volunteer deliverer has also shown how to keep cool in a crisis.

Volunteer Roy Packer helped one of his elderly clients who had fallen and was unable to unlock her front door.

Showing practical initiative, Roy knotted several plastic bags together and pushed them through the letterbox so that the lady could put the keys she was holding into the bag.

Roy pulled them back through the open door and got her back into her chair. It was not long before she recovered and was enjoying her meal.

Meals on wheels supervisor Jean McDonald said: "Our volunteers are a dedicated group of people and without them we would not be able to make the 1,300 meal deliveries that are undertaken each week."

She added: "We have about 50 volunteers but the meals on wheels service is so popular we are always looking for extra help, particularly with the deliveries.

"Mileage allowances are paid and if anybody would like to help please contact me on 023 8068 8316."