The latest Times and Star Trader of the Week is Gem Cakmak, owner of the Aroma Coffee Shop in Maryport who has been providing free meals to residents and staff of care homes as well as the key workers on the coronavirus front-line.

He is supporting people through the outbreak as he feels it is his duty to help the community who have supported him.

Gem has been in the fast food trade for the past 21 years, working at two family businesses, Pedro's on Senhouse Street and the Aroma Coffee Shop in Ellenborough.

He feels it is now time to give back to the community.

"We've been supported by the local people for the past 20 years or so.

"I'm just trying to help out as much as I can."

And having experienced difficult times himself, he wants to help the elderly and vulnerable through the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The life I had in Turkey...when you see situations like this you remember your past."

Gem's meals and treats for care homes have included chips, pie and peas for each resident and their carers who are on the front-line of the Covid-19 outbreak. He has also made them afternoon tea with cream scones.

He said: "Last week I bought loaves of bread and cut half for Riverside Court and half for Parkside

"In this situation I thought 'I'll do it' we don't have to just expect the government to do it."

His nominator said: "He is doing an amazing job helping and supporting the people of Maryport and we are all extremely grateful. He is a treasure who in any case will help any one in any situation if he can but throughout all of this he really has been remarkable and he absolutely deserves this!

"Since all this began he has been a pillar of support for our community.

They said: "On the day he supplied the home I work for, all residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed, it was much appreciated."

Gem also donated trays of bread and other vital supplies to the town's care homes.

The Aroma Coffee Shop has been open since 2018, they offer food and drink deliveries with a variety of options from the typical fast food meals to roast dinners.