THE East Lothian community is rallying round to support the vulnerable during the coronavirus lockdown - and in this week's paper, out tomorrow, we're highlighting some of this great work.

Across East Lothian there are wonderful acts of selflessness and kindness in the face of the lockdown, with volunteers in every community coming forward to do what they can to support those in need in their towns and villages.

Be it delivering food to vulnerable neighbours and those self-isolating or finding ways to keep East Lothian’s younger residents entertained while the schools are shut, there are many fantastic examples of community spirit on show.

So in this week's paper, we're highlighting some of these superb efforts, including the county mum whose teddy bear hunt idea has become a hit around the world; the karate instructor putting residents through their paces online; the community group delivering hot food to the doors of vulnerable members of their community; and the families putting up drawings of rainbows in their windows to spread some much-needed light in these dark times.

We're also shining a light on the great work being co-ordinated by community councils in communities across East Lothian to ensure everyone who needs support can get it, helped by an army of kind-hearted volunteers.

And to keep you all occupied while you're in lockdown, we also have an eight pages of puzzles to solve!

But we also need your help.

Trusted news has never been so important, and neither has your support.

We're doing our best to give you important, up-to-date information as the coronavirus pandemic continues, but we, like so many others, are facing challenges right now.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you to help us provide you with trusted news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

We’re here to serve you and you can back us by buying the paper each Thursday, or pick it up for a regular reader who perhaps can’t get their weekly Courier. Could you buy an extra copy for a neighbour and pop it through their door?

Why not contact your local shop and see if they offer home delivery of the newspaper?

Remeber too that we have a page by page e-edition which you can subscribe to through our website.

Thank you for your support, it means the world to us and ensures we can carry on doing our best to keep you informed of all that's going on in this wonderful county.

So for now, stay safe, stay healthy and look out for each other. Together, we'll make it through this.