Swindon Food Collective volunteers were given an early present to help them make sure vulnerable families don’t go without over Christmas.

Members of the Old Town Belles Women’s Institute handed over a cheque for more than £780 after their annual quiz and a year of fundraising.

And there is more to come.

President of the Old Town Belles president Kim Missen said: “The Food Collective has been our nominated charity for the year, and as well as a very successful quiz our members have held food collections in supermarkets.

“They and their friends are helping with the two day food collection at Tesco in Ocotal Way Swindon this week.

She added: “We hope this will help fill the food collective’s shelves so that hungry families can be fed this Christmas.”

Cher Smith, the manager of the collective was over the moon to receive the donation.

She said: “This money will be a real help for the foodbank to cover the costs of collecting and distributing all the extra food donations at what is a particularly difficult time of year for many families who struggle to cope with the extra costs of winter and Christmas.

“Need has been rising over the last few years, and it is great that we have built a partnership with the Old Town Belles to help meet that need.

"We, and they, want the partnership to continue in the future with further food collections.”