Leeds newsagent looks out for welfare of elderly customers

Ali Seedat and his wife Rashida have run Fountain Street News for 17 years.

Dad of three Ali, 50, said the shop deals with up to 250 home deliveries of newspapers a day - an increase of around 10 per cent on the pre-pandemic numbers.

The 250 home delivery figure includes around 40 copies of the Yorkshire Evening Post

Ali said he would be happy to hear from new customers who would like a newspaper delivered to their home.

Ali said delivery drivers and paperboys look out for the welfare of the elderly customers they deliver to.

During bad weather he offers to deliver food and other essential items with newspapers to elderly home delivery customers - many of whom have been shielding during the Covid pandemic.

Ali, 50, said: "People definitely appreciate the service, they are happy with it.

"When the weather is bad we have told most of the elderly people that whatever essentials they need we will drop them off at the same time."

"I have told them just give me a ring and we will sort it out.

"The majority of them are the ones we deliver to and they know we are coming. There's no special journeys because they are part of the route.

"The feedback is good. People thank us and say it is brilliant.

Ali said he enjoys his job, adding: "Every day is a different challenge. No two days are the same."

Home delivery of newspapers courtesy of newsagents across Leeds continues to be an important service during the pandemic.

The YEP has always had readers that have been unable to leave their homes for whatever reason, but with many more people being forced to stay home that number has increased dramatically over the last 12 months.

This has led to the home delivery service becoming a lifeline for many customers.

Simon Hackett, YEP content sales support manager, said: "I would like to recognise the amount of time and effort that newsagents have put in to ensuring that the Yorkshire Evening Post has been delivered, day in day out, in the most trying of circumstances.

"It is only with their help that we have been able to keep some of our most vulnerable readers informed over the last year."