michael buchanan, bbc news.eers, just 2a hours after an appeal was launched. the government's target was half that number. but they've been indunated with people wanting to help care for the most vulnerable, delivering food and medicines, driving patients to appointments and phoning people who may be isolated. the prime minister said they were essential in the fight against the virus. 0ur north of england correspondent judith moritz reports. hi, iam kirsty, i'm volunteering to do some driving for the nhs... hi, my name is robert howard... the nhs asked for help and thousands replied, an army of volunteers growing all the time who have signed up online to do their bit. i recently had pneumonia so i couldn't put myself at physical risk but this is a volunteer role that i can do from my home. i would like to offer some form of human connection and support to other people in my community. i am volunteering so that there will still be an nhs around for my children when they are all grown up. this feels very strange.

michael buchanan, bbc news.o—week lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus. despite nigeria's relatively small number of cases, less than 150, residents have been ordered to stay indoors and all movement into and out of lagos state has been banned. lagos is nigeria's commerical capital — the heart of africa's largest economy. but it's also a city with high levels of poverty, where social distancing may be impossible, as chi chi izundu reports. this is life for the next two weeks — quiet streets, traffic—free roads, silence. an estimated population of 21 million people have been told to stay indoors. but unlike the rest of the world, time has allowed nigeria to prepare. it's been nearly four weeks since the first case was confirmed, and so far there's been less than 140. this stadium, now converted into an isolation centre, is waiting for patients. when you are at war, you know, you can have either an offensive or a defensive strategy. i think, because of our weaknesses, we've opted for an offensive strategy, s

back with us are collin martin, greg staples, michael buchanan. do you want to see fed chair powell and the fed that they have not done already? michael: just a real, cohesive about prepared to do anything it takes. powder is not dry. maybe we don't go to negative rates. we wouldn't expect that, but there are a lot of other tools in the toolkit. wellness toessing a use -- willingness to use those tools, whether it is q you are other, that will be really important for the market to know, that the market -- that the fed is not out of ammunition and i repaired to use it all. jonathan: it's been so tough as a policymaker. anytime the fed or a central banker has moved in, the market has stepped in and reinforced the argument that it cannot do a lot. difficult to communicate, but a critical juncture for me. too many balls have been dropped, particularly with that ecb announcement. greg: christine lagarde announced this is it, i'm passing the baton for monetary policy. i cannot hear to compress spreads. that is it, i can do no more. this week come it's a

are now facing imminent collapse and they're now calling on the government for urgent help as michael buchananman voice to break the loneliness of the lockdown. at this age uk centre in north london are getting 500 calls a week asking for help, five times the usual demand. although they've never been busier, they estimate their income will be down by as much as 50% over the coming months. the furlough situation does not apply to us. we have too much work and people are working long hours and everybody is working, and in fact, working long hours and everybody is working, and infact, i'm having working long hours and everybody is working, and in fact, i'm having to pay for more hours. so you have increasing costs and reducing income? yes, exactly, and i think that's a very typical picture across the country. lift off for the london marathon. with most major fundraising events like the london marathon either postponed or cancelled, the pandemic is fast becoming a threat to the very existence of some organisations. while others are scaling back on their core activities. cancer research uk says the

michael buchanan reports. forced to turn to the benefit system. since monday last week, 477,000 claims have been made for universal credit. many believed to be from the self—employed. it is creating huge pressure on the government. we are currently experiencing high call volumes. call back later. jonathan hume's contract as a research associate ended early this month and has been calling the helpline for the past few days. since friday i tried from about eight up to 100 times. 100 times? yes. sometimes it will draw after you choose the options on the system and the other few times when i have got through i will be on hold for two hours and then my network will cut me off. about six to eight hours in total on hold. universal credit is a new service... the benefit is designed to be claimed online, but those who have done so have also experienced problems. queues to verify their identities passed 100,000 yesterday, with many simply giving up. officials at the department for work and pensions told mps this morning

are now facing imminent collapse and they're now calling on the government for urgent help as michael buchanans age uk centre in north london, they're getting 500 calls a week asking for help, five times the usual demand. although they've never been busier, they estimate their income will be down by as much as 50% over the coming months. the furlough situation does not apply to us. we have too much work and people are working long hours and everybody is working, and infact, i'm having to pay for more hours. so you have increasing costs and reducing income? yes, exactly, and i think that's a very typical picture across the country. lift off for the london marathon. with most majorfundraising events like the london marathon either postponed or cancelled, the pandemic is fast becoming a threat to the very existence of some organisations. while others are scaling back on their core activities. cancer research uk says the fall in donations means they will have to cut back on research, which they say could well delay new breakthrough treatments against the disease. each charity is affected in a diff

michael buchanan, bbc news.has just come from a government statement. spain has continued to see a dramatic rise in the number of cases and deaths and recorded its biggest daily death toll so far put up now we have at the deputy prime minister, carmen ca lvo, the deputy prime minister, carmen calvo, has the deputy prime minister, carmen ca lvo, has tested the deputy prime minister, carmen calvo, has tested positive for coronavirus. for hundreds of thousands of britons who have been away travelling, these are uncertain times with some borders are shut and many flights cancelled. our correspondent has been speaking to people who still don't know how or when they will get home. please, please, please, get us home to get back to work. my mum is nervous and wants to get back to the uk because we know we have the medications there. trapped in far—flung corners around the world, normally dream destinations but now desperate for escape. hundreds of thousands of brits are struggling to get home after the government advis