Two Malvern school children sold their old toys so they could buy food for the town’s food bank.

Brother and sister Charlie, 6, and Mia, 9, wanted to help families who may be struggling to put food on the table this Christmas.

So with the help of mum Nicola Mughal, they made enough money to buy some festive treats to donate, as well as some essentials.

Malvern Gazette: Mia and Charlie donated essentials and sweet treats to the food bankMia and Charlie donated essentials and sweet treats to the food bank (Image: Nicola Mughal)

“We had some old toys that were just sitting in a cupboard, so with Christmas coming up we were having a bit of a clear-out,” said Mrs Mughal.

“I suggested selling them and putting the money towards a shop for the foodbank.

“The kids really liked that idea. We made just under £70 and I did a foodbank shop, with their input - they made sure there were lots of mince pies and chocolate because they said that’s important at Christmas.

“They were really proud of how much we’d managed to donate - and I was really proud too.

“I know people are struggling all year round, with the price of everything going up, but particularly at Christmas we wanted to help.

“I remember going with my dad and getting tins of things for our dinner because he struggled at times raising three girls on his own.”

Mrs Mughal said Charlie and Mia, who go to Somers Park Primary School, now want to make their food bank donations a regular thing.

“After Christmas, we’re going to get a little tin, put £10 in it every so often and do this again.”

The Malvern Hills Foodbank usually opens on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is open on Thursday, December 21 and Thursday, December 28, but closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

It’ll be open as normal from Tuesday, January 2.

Volunteers have been adding seasonal extras such as tinned hams and mince pies to food parcels for the past couple of weeks, so families can enjoy a little Christmas treat.