Tesco shoppers across North Somerset and Somerset have been thanked after more than 26,000 meals were donated to help communities in the coronavirus pandemic.

Residents donated packets, tins and boxes towards the Trussell Trust and FareShare for the Tesco Food Collection project, which ran for three days at the end of November.

Weston Mercury: Across the UK, a total of 818,202 meals were donated during the November Tesco Food Collection.Across the UK, a total of 818,202 meals were donated during the November Tesco Food Collection. (Image: Matthew Horwood)

Tesco’s head of community thanked donors in the Somerset region for their support towards annual collection in what has been a particularly challenging year.

Claire Da Silva said: "With most of the UK in lockdown, holding the collection was always going to be a challenge, but once again we have been amazed by the generosity of our Somerset customers – and the fact that we have now collected more than a million meals nationally is amazing.

“We know that every single can, jar or packet donated is helping someone who needs support this winter.

"We are immensely proud of the vital support our customers and colleagues have been able to give to the two charities in these very challenging times”

There are Tesco Superstores in Clevedon, Nailsea and Weston.

Weston Mercury: A Tesco volunteer holding a shopping list guide for donations at the launch of the Tesco Food Collection. Picture: Panona MediaA Tesco volunteer holding a shopping list guide for donations at the launch of the Tesco Food Collection. Picture: Panona Media (Image: ©ParsonsMedia.net)

FareShare, the UK's longest-running food redistribution charity, received a portion of the donations - after a year of high demand.

Phoebe Ruxton, Head of Development at FareShare South West, said: “This year has been so difficult for so many people and FareShare has seen demand for our food skyrocket.

"We continue to provide more than two million meals per week to vulnerable communities across the UK, and 90 per cent of the organisations we work with expect demand to remain the same as at peak crisis levels, or even increase through the winter.

“We are immensely grateful to every single person in Somerset who donated food during this year’s Tesco Food Collection.”

Meanwhile, Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “Throughout 2020, communities across the UK have stepped in to provide vital support to people left without enough money for the basics.

"We have been truly humbled to see how much people are willing to give to foodbanks in our network as they face their busiest winter ever."