Coronavirus: Rolls Royce offers luxury cars to volunteer drivers

MP Andrew Griffith said the 'fleet' of cars would support hospitals and charities

Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Rolls-Royce

Rolls Royce Motor Cars, renowned for its high-class luxury vehicles, is offering up its fleet for drivers carrying out services to support efforts to counter the coronavirus in the UK.

British MP Andrew Griffith, who represents Arundel and South Downs, said local residents offered their heartfelt thanks for the move.

"Local firm (Rolls Royce Cars) is putting its entire fleet of cars with volunteer drivers free at the disposal of local charities, hospitals and other essential services to help the national emergency."

A spokesperson for Rolls Royce Cars confirmed the news but did not add any further information. Mr Griffith did not respond to a request for comment.

Last month Rolls Royce announced it was closing it's UK manufacturing plant as fears over the virus spread.

The UK's National Health Service sent out a request for volunteers to supports efforts to counter the pandemic, including for drivers who could called upon to deliver medicine or drove those discharged from hospital home. Hundreds of thousands answered the call.

“I think at times of crisis, people come together. And the vast majority of people in this country are doing what the government has asked us all to do. But it’s important that everyone does that as that will save lives, NHS England’s national medical director, Stephen Powis, told the BBC last month.

“I know there’s vast numbers of people looking to help neighbours, vulnerable people who live close by, so no it doesn’t surprise me at all. In times like this, as the chief medical officer has already said, we see outbreaks of altruism, people wanting to help, so it’s a wonderful response in the same way that all those doctors coming back, nurses coming back. I’m bowled over by it.”