A SUPERMARKET chain, with stories in York, are giving away half a million free postcards to help spread positivity and loneliness as lockdown eases.

Morrisons will be working in partnership with local primary schools to give children postcards illustrated with sunflowers and positive messages that they can colour in.

The school children can post their cards to grandparents, neighbours and friends who they may not have seen recently due to lockdown or give them back to Morrisons to distribute to care homes and via its 'Doorstep Delivery' service.

David Potts, CEO at Morrisons, said: "Customers write to me weekly to let me know that Morrisons 'Doorstep Delivery' service has been a lifeline to them and express their gratitude and we wanted to let them know we will continue to be here for them.

"We hope these messages will put a smile on people’s faces up and down the country."

Every Morrisons store, including those in Foss Islands and Front Street in York, will receive 1500 postcards to give away locally.

According to recent data from the Office of National Statistics, 47 per cent of adults in England reported that their wellbeing had been affected by the pandemic.