A LOCKDOWN baker from Dovercourt who has been baking hundreds of pies from scratch for elderly and vulnerable residents has received Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s daily Points of Light award.

Great-great-grandmother Flo Osborne, aged 89, has been baking as many as 20 pies a day since April for her fellow neighbours, as part of the wider work of North Essex Support Team (NEST), run by Les Nicoll, which provides support and donations of household items for families and individuals in need, free of charge.

Her community acts of kindness have seen her become a social media sensation, including receiving support from footballer and campaigner Marcus Rashford.

In a personal letter to Flo, the Prime Minister, said: “I was amazed to hear of your extraordinary one woman bakery.

“Over the last few months, you have fed hundreds of vulnerable people and your legendary cherry pie has delighted the people of Harwich.

“I know you do this with no thought of recognition, but you deserve every word of praise.”

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Flo said: “I can’t understand what all the fuss is all about.

“All I’m doing is trying to help the old folk and Les Nicoll with his charity NEST, for which my son and I cook.

“He has gathered up lots of volunteers in the Harwich community to cook and delivery over 100 meals twice a week to the old and vulnerable in Harwich during all the lockdown and is trying to raise £10,000 to provide Christmas breakfast and dinner, along with presents for the children, for 100 families in Harwich.”

The Prime Minister’s UK daily Points of Light award was first launched in April 2014 to recognise outstanding individuals making a difference where they live.

Flo is the 1,532nd person to be recognised.

As the UK unites to fight the spread of coronavirus, the award is focusing exclusively on people serving their community through the pandemic.