FOREST Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince has offered the use of his team's football ground to help the National Health Service combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The football season has been suspended until at least 30 April and so the ground will not be needed for matches until that time at the earliest.

Mr Vince, the owner of green energy company Ecotricity, has also offered the NHS the use of one of his firm's town centre buildings, Unicorn House.

Mr Vince said: "We’ve offered The New Lawn - home of Forest Green Rovers - to the government for use during the coronavirus crisis.

"In the event that the NHS needs more space for beds, something were seeing in other countries, it might be a useful option.

"We’ve also offered Unicorn House, one of our town centre buildings, which we vacated this week as we made the rapid shift from having about 700 office based staff to just 12.

"And, following a message on Facebook - we've just opened Forest Green Rovers' player hostel in Stroud - for NHS and key worker use.

"A lot of front line people need somewhere to stay overnight, away from their families, to keep them safe.

"That’s becoming difficult as overnight accommodation is shutting down.

"Our first guest tonight is a midwife - we have room for 12 people in total."