SHOPPERS donated 817 kilograms of food to the Callington foodbank on Saturday during a collection at the town's Tesco supermarket.

Volunteers stood inside the Tesco Superstore and asked shoppers to donate an item or two to help feed local people in crisis. Members of Tesco's Retired Staff Association gave their time to help make the day a success.

Alan Woollcombe, Tesco community champion, said:  'I was amazed at how generous some people were, coming out of the supermarket with bags and trolleys full of food for the collection.

'Some of the volunteers came from more than 20 miles away, and it was lovely to see lots of children getting involved and walking up to the volunteers with armfuls of food.'

More than 90% of the food given out by the foodbank is donated by the public, making collections like Saturday's vitally important. The food collected was enough to feed 40 families.

Last year Callington foodbank collected an amazing six tonnes of food, which fed nearly 674 local men, women and children who would otherwise have been forced to go hungry.

Callington foodbank manager David Jewell, said: 'The need for emergency food is bigger than ever. The foodbank wouldn't be able to run without public generosity and Callington foodbank would like to say a big thank-you to Callington Tesco and all those who gave their food or time on Saturday.

'It is hard to describe the difference giving a food box makes to parents whose children would otherwise go to bed hungry. Collections like Saturday's make this possible.'