A private catering firm has come to the aid of a hospital after a staff crisis.

Staff shortages and sickness reduced Abingdon Hospital's kitchen to only one cook but local caterer Paul Lucas moved in with two assistants to help.

Hospital manager Jacky Hourahane said: "We faced a desperate situation. We should have five kitchen staff but have only two and when one went sick we were left with a single person.

"I tried getting in staff and even asked the Army at Dalton Barracks, but they could not help as they were away."

Before Mr Lucas's arrival, Mrs Hourahane said she was thinking of going to a fish and chip shop but that would not have met the needs of a "balanced diet".

The hospital has to provide 90 lunches a day, teas and snacks for patients in the two wards, the day hospital and the mental health unit.

The emergency staff drafted in to ease the kitchen crisis will have to stay for at least another week.

Part of the 100-year-old community hospital part is to be rebuilt next year.