RESIDENTS from two local care homes can now stay connected to their families thanks to a kind donation from a local company.

Caledonian Maritime Asset Limited (CMAL), which is based in Port Glasgow and owns ferries, ports and harbours across Scotland, refurbished laptops and donated them to Bagatelle and Glenfield.

The computers are enabling residents to video call with their families and friends who cannot visit them during the coronavirus lockdown.

The laptops were previously used by CMAL employees and were fully cleared and refurbished before being gifted to the west end homes run by Greenock Medical Aid Society.

Andrea Wyllie, chief executive of Greenock Medical Aid Society, says the donation has made a huge difference to her residents.

She told the Tele: “This is a difficult time for our residents, who are no longer allowed visits from family members due to the coronavirus restrictions.

"We’ve been helping them to video call with their families, but with limited resources we’ve not been able to do so as much as we would like.

“As a charity, we are seeing costs spiralling at the moment, and we’ve had to cancel the majority of our fundraising activity.

"We are so heartened by this donation, as it’s vital for us to keep our residents connected with family.

"We don’t know how long it will be before we can relax restrictions and allow visitors back into the homes.”

A total of four laptops have been handed over to the homes and bosses at CMAL say they felt the gesture was the least they could do to help.

Kevin Hobbs, chief executive, said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, but particularly the older members of our local community.

"With strict restrictions on visiting, some care home residents won’t see family members for months.

“Providing laptops to these two care homes will go a little way to providing comfort for both residents and their family members, as face to face video calls help both sides to feel more connected.”