THE chair of Malvern Hills Foodbank is delighted that a Tesco superstore in Worcester is taking part in a national food donation drive.

Customers at the St Peters superstore in Worcester are this week being asked to donate foodstuff such as long-life milk, cereal, tinned foods and coffee.

The collection, being held until Saturday, November 29, is part of the fifth neighbourhood food collection run by Tesco in partnership with foodbank charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare.

Chris Bray of Malvern Hills foodbank said: "Winter is the hardest time of year for people living in poverty, and this Christmas is looking especially tough as many people on low incomes or experiencing benefit delays are already really struggling.

"We’re delighted that Tesco are again working with foodbanks to help stop local people going hungry this Christmas and we hope that many people will respond to our invitation to donate one or two food items."

The numbers of people turning to Malvern Hills foodbank in the first six months of this financial year have increased by over 30 per cent compared to the same period last year. 779 people in Malvern Hills have been given three days’ emergency food in the same period.

As with previous collections Tesco will be topping up total donations by a further 30 per cent, which will enable the foodbank to purchase items it is short of and some selected perishable foods such as fresh milk and bread.