News in brief

● Forfar-based building services firm Alliance Electrical has offered the services of their plumbing and heating engineers free of charge to any NHS employee requiring emergency works to their heating or boilers.

● Burglars ransacked the home of a 92-year-old woman. The two men knocked on the victim’s door on Thursday night, lying to the pensioner that the woman’s neighbour had died of coronavirus and offering to clean her house for her in Greater Manchester.

● Hospital staff have said it was a boost to receive a phone call from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. William and Kate chatted to staff from University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, and Queen’s Hospital Burton in the West Midlands.

● Transport firms have welcomed the announcement of a government bailout package. Stagecoach said the decision will “enable key workers to continue to travel” while FirstGroup confirmed it has received “the necessary support to continue running bus services”. Demand for buses has fallen by about 90% due to the virus.

● A virtual pub has been created where drinkers can get together for a pint to help tackle loneliness. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has launched a video platform called The Red (On)Lion at theredonlion.co.uk

● At least 52 migrants, including five children, risked their lives to cross the Channel on Thursday. They were intercepted by Border Force travelling across the Dover straits in four inflatable boats, the Home Office confirmed.

● A UK-wide disaster relief fund has announced a further £5 million will be distributed to frontline charities. Nearly half of the £16 million total pledged to the National Emergencies Trust’s coronavirus appeal has been given out. Donations can be made online by visiting nationalemergenciestrust.org. uk or by texting APPEAL to 70141 to donate £10.

● The UK Government has set a goal for 100,000 coronavirus tests a day in England by the end of the month. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the figure includes antigen tests that tell people whether they currently have Covid-19, as well as antibody tests to see whether people have previously had the infection.