• WE, an elderly couple, were shopping in Tesco (Pentonville Road) when we saw two young ladies looking around, obviously not themselves shopping for groceries, and clearly not members of Tesco’s staff.

We saw them in one aisle and then in another, and eventually they engaged us in conversation.

It transpired that we were the object of their attention because they were volunteers in the Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group in Islington.

Their mission was finding elderly people who could be especially vulnerable to Covid-19 infection and should be at home rather than shopping in supermarkets (or even this Tesco Express).

We fit the bill. They explained that they could shop for us and deliver our groceries to the doorstep.

We were, of course, delighted. I am 83, with a lung condition (bronchiectasis) and my husband is 87, nearly blind, and taking cytotoxic drugs for cancer, compromising his immune system.

We are both either too busy or lazy, or ignorant, to get apps and use online shopping, as the majority of young people do, using desktop computers and iPhones.

There we were shopping in Tesco, and thus putting both our lives and the National Health Service at risk. Since that day, three weeks ago, we have not entered a store.

Since our meeting with Helen and Patty in Tesco, they have purchased all our groceries from local supermarkets, medicines from local pharmacies, and other items, such as my hearing aids online, and delivered them within a short time of our “order” by email or telephone.

This friendly service has boosted my faith in humanity.

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