Deborah Hewetson is a Covid Santa Claus.

She may not get down chimneys but her friends have been delighted at the small gifts that have been left on their doorsteps.

She even made five of them afternoon tea and organised for the sixth member of their pandemic Zoom group to have afternoon delivered to her home in Liverpool.

Deborah, 55, of Westfield was nominated by lifelong friend Sally Spencer who said: “Deborah is an essential worker at Asda Dunmail Park Workington and although her husband is in the vulnerable category she follows the rules and advice but still manages to shop and leaves parcels on doorsteps of other friends in isolation.

“Debs is so thoughtful. She has arranged bingo and quizzes for our Lockdown group, giving out Easter Eggs, Scratchcards, jigsaws and bottles or beer as prizes which she buys out of her own pocket.

Then we all received the most amazing afternoon tea made up of various sandwiches, quiche, sausage roll, and pie along with a mixture of mini cakes scones with clotted cream and jam, left on our doorstep.

“As I cannot give her the hug she deserves because of Covid-19 I’m sure this nomination would go a long way in showing Deb how much it all means and that it is very much appreciated.”

Deborah said she was given a message by a colleague that she was wanted by the Times & Star.

“I couldn’t think why - and still didn’t really understand when he told me I had been nominated for something.

“It was a lovely surprise..

“I work in the cash office at Asda so I am not on the shop floor. My husband, John, had a heart attack which is why he was shielding but I have been able to work throughout lockdown.

“A group of us were meant to go away to celebrate a friend’s 60th. We couldn’t go, so we had a virtual party and have kept the zoom group going ever since.”

She said lockdown was hard for everyone and she just wanted to make it a bit more fun for her friends.

Deborah is married to John and has two sons, John, who is a serving Royal Marine, and Stephen who works at Sellafield.

She also has two grandchildren, Ozzy and Skyla.