AROUND half a tonne more food than last year was donated during a collection for the Foodbank at Tesco Lydney.

Volunteers of the Forest Trussell Trust Foodbank received 1.5 tonnes of food which will be topped up by 30 per cent by Tesco.

Tesco supports the national campaign and last year donated £1million in top-ups to the UK Trussell Trust Foodbanks.

Sandi McDonagh, of the Forest Foodbank, said: "Trussell Trust's new figures show an increase of 38 per cent for feeding people in the UK – nearly 500,000 compared with the same period last year. This increase is almost entirely due to low incomes and benefit sanctions/delays. Our yearly figures for the number of people in the Forest who need our help have seen little change.

"Thanks to everyone's generosity we will be able to cope with the Christmas rush and give everyone in need some Christmas cheer. Due to donations we have already given every child in need an Advent Calendar."