A BARROW dad has launched a unique network in a bid to encourage people in Barrow to plate up an extra meal for elderly people in their community.

Through "An Extra Plate for Furness", Jeff Holt wants families to plate up an extra meal to then give to a local elderly person in need who might be unable to make proper, home-cooked meals for themselves.

Mr Holt is no stranger to random acts of kindness and philanthropic good deeds.

After the murder of Andy Hackett in December 2017, Mr Holt joined forces with The Mail to raise the funds to help Mr Hackett’s family buy his grave plot and headstone.

He also launched a fundraiser to give the family of a young Askam boy who almost lost his hand in a freak accident.

The idea for his latest project came while he was cooking up a Sunday roast for his wife Gemma and their two sons Jasper and Oscar.

“I cooked a Sunday dinner today and as usual I cooked way too much,” he said.

“My mum had just left and she lives over the other side of town. And it came to me, what if there was someone within a few streets away that was lonely elderly and struggling to make a decent meal for themselves.

“Surely that plate of food could go to someone making them enjoy a home cooked meal, and also getting to know part of their community and trying to combat loneliness at the same time.”

Mr Holt, of Plover Gardens on Walney, has been looking into the “nitty gritty” of his plan, such as health and safety implications, but he hopes it will help to tackle loneliness in Barrow.

He added: “I understand the elderly will be less likely to use Facebook but they may have family who can’t make it over all the time.

“We could network with one deserving person and they could be a regular person you cook an extra plate for. You take ownership of that person, you get to know them and them you.”

Anyone who would like to get involved, or nominate someone who would like to benefit, can join An Extra Plate for Furness on Facebook.