THOUSANDS of health workers and carers have received nearly 45,000 free pizza and pasta meals from an Italian restaurant group during the pandemic.

Deliveries were made to 14 hospitals, including five in Glasgow and the surrounding area, by Viva Italia before lockdown.

Food, prepared by Mozza and Tony Macaroni, was taken to the Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth, Gartnavel, Hairmyres and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley as a “massive thank you to health workers on the front line”.

Then, during lockdown chefs prepared meals for NHS employees, with the Tony2Go restaurant in East Kilbride converted “into an exclusive NHS food hub”.

A spokesman for Viva Italia said: “We wanted to show our great appreciation for the frontline workers who were under such great pressure.”

NHS staff could collect two free meals on production of their employment identity card.

The same arrangements were in place in Livingston, where pizzas were distributed by the Tony Macaroni pizza truck from the restaurant car park.

Vulnerable and elderly people in Glasgow were among 3000 people who received free frozen pasta meals after being nominated by Tony Macaroni customers.

The spokesman said: “Just before lockdown fully commenced, and our restaurants were forced to completely close, we began delivering free pasta and pizza to hospitals all over Scotland from both Tony Macaroni and Mozza restaurants.

“We supplied the food to keep the nation’s NHS staff going as they battled the pandemic.

“The hospitals are near to our restaurants, which ensured the food we delivered was fresh and hot."

He added: “On the Tony Macaroni Facebook page, we asked our followers to nominate vulnerable and elderly people to receive free frozen pasta, so they didn’t struggle for food during these difficult times.

“This resulted in over 3000 pastas meals being delivered to people all over Scotland, including care homes and local food banks.”