Great-grandfather Peter Burrows, from Mansfield Woodhouse, has emphysema, a serious condition where the air sacs in the lungs have been damaged, which can make breathing difficult.

Peter retired from his work as an engineer in Oxford 14 years ago and was diagnosed with emphysema eight years ago. But the 75-year-old great-grandfather, who has two great-grandchildren, nine grandchildren and three children, keeps himself busy chairing the local Breathe Easy support group for those affected with lung conditions – and usually spends the rest of his retirement with his wife, Patricia, exercising and walking their dog.

However, he is now in self isolation to protect himself from Coronavirus after the British Lung Foundation made the decision to step down all Breathe Easy groups three weeks ago to protect its members.

He said: “I’m used to being out and about and socialising so staying indoors is difficult but I know it’s the right thing to do.

“But the reality is I need healthy people to stay at home to stop the virus spreading to protect me too. If you’re healthy it may be mild for you but it could be life-threatening for me. Please follow the Government’s advice and stay at home.”

David Hodgson, respiratory consultant at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Covid-19 has serious consequences for people with underlying health conditions, which includes death.

“People are worried and are protecting themselves but that will not be enough unless healthy people also take this seriously and stay away from others and social distance. I am appealing to healthy people to be responsible to protect those who are already ill from becoming more sick.”

Jonathan Gribbin, director of Public Health and Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Every member of our community has a part to play in helping to defeat coronavirus. If you stay at home you are contributing to the national effort to stop the spread and keep people safe.”

Breathe Easy, which is part of the British Lung Foundation, has advice for people with respiratory conditions here.

National guidance for everyone is at nhs.uk/coronavirus