A food van used to help people in rural communities cope with the rising cost of living could be off the road until March.

But efforts are underway to get the Breckland Mobile Food Store back in operation sooner.

Breckland Council said the van has an issue with its air suspension system, and repairs needing to be carried out by Mercedes engineers.

The vehicle also needs welding required over both wheel arches, which cannot take place until the suspension system is fixed.

The council said that once these repairs had been completed, the van would need an MOT, and the earliest this can be booked is the last week in March.

The van hit the road last May offering items at a reduced price to those living in harder-to-reach parts of the district.

On-board staff had been trained to offer advice on debt management, isolation, loneliness and mental health, and can signpost customers to a range of further assistance.

Councillor Alison Webb, Breckland’s executive member for health and communities, said: “We are working with our partners to ensure the Breckland Mobile Food Store is back in operation as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, our team has been proactively contacting people who have previously used this service to offer them a supply of food if needed and directing them to alternatives such as community supermarkets.

"This initiative has always been about much more than just food though, so we’re also sending out leaflets promoting a range of other support that remains available, including other council services, access to mental health support, and financial assistance."

Dereham Times: The Breckland Mobile Food Store has been running since May 2022The Breckland Mobile Food Store has been running since May 2022 (Image: Breckland Council)

The mobile food store is Breckland Council and Norfolk Community Foundation and is run by local charity Kickstart Norfolk.

The purchase of the vehicle was made possible by Mattishall-based training provider, Poultec, who made a significant donation to the project.

Those communities are Swanton Morley, Bawdeswell, Shipdham, Carbrooke, Saham Toney, Ashill, Necton, Narborough, Weeting and East Harling.

Dereham Times: Alison Webb, executive member for health and communities at Breckland CouncilAlison Webb, executive member for health and communities at Breckland Council (Image: Gary Donnison Photography 2021)