A QUEENSFERRY couple have launched a community swap shop right outside their front door to help those in need during the coronavirus outbreak.

Jane and Phil Elliot, best known locally for running Jane and Phil’s Ice Cream Van, have set up a number of items on the front wall of their garden - including eggs, bottled water, baked beans and toilet roll – with the idea that members of the community can come out and swap items they have for what they need if it is on the wall.

The couple, who live on Ash View in Queensferry, have had to close their business temporarily due to the coronavirus but still want to do their bit and help the community where possible.

Jane told the Leader: “We are in isolation at the minute and I asked for my daughter to pick us up some eggs and we ended up with a massive box from Costco. I knew we wouldn’t use them all and thought that we could do something for people struggling to get supermarket delivery slots or those relying on food banks which is when I got the swap shop idea.

“We left items to start it off on Friday and the idea is you just choose an item you need and replace with an item that you don’t need. We can get through this if we pull together as a community and this is just our way of helping out.”

In the first few hours of posting the swap shop online, Jane said that the response was fantastic, and people were rely keen to support the idea.

She added that the pair will post a photo on their businesses social media page daily of what is on the wall so people have an idea of what they can exchange items for. Items will left outside throughout the day and be brought inside their house every evening at 7pm.