SHOPPERS in Bury have helped spread Christmas joy this year providing thousands of meals to people in need by donating at Tesco stores.

A total of 8,082 meals worth of food for charities FareShare and The Trussell Trust has been donated by generous Tesco customers, who were asked to donate long-life items, with Tesco further topping up the value of their donations by 20 per cent.

The figure contributes to more than three million meals donated across the UK this year, and brings the total to more than 49 million since the Food Collection scheme started in 2012.

Tesco’s Head of Community, Alec Brown, said: "Every year we are taken aback by the generosity of customers who give to the Food Collection in our stores across the UK.

"We know that this annual collection makes a real difference in Bury and we would like to thank everyone who has donated, volunteered or helped with the Food Collection in store."

Tesco's has also raised over £164,000, to be shared by the two charities, by donating £1 for every festive themed 'hat with a heart' sold by its clothing range F&F.

Samantha Stapley, Operations Manager at The Trussell Trust, said: "Our foodbank network has spent the last month making sure that people referred to them with no money for food don’t go hungry this Christmas.

"This work has been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Tesco customers, store colleagues and volunteers during the Food Collection.

"Thank you for your support - your generosity has stopped hunger this Christmas."