GENEROUS shoppers donated more than 100 crates of food and toiletries at Tesco Warndon and St Peter's today (Thursday).

It has been an impressive start to the first of three days of collections at the two stores by Worcester Foodbank based in Carden Close, near the city centre.

One family at Tesco St Peter's even donated a trolley filled with food which will go to help feed those facing crisis over the winter months.

Year five from Oasis Academy Warndon also went to the supermarket to support the collection.

Foodbank manager Grahame Lucas said the appeal had got off to a great start but they hoped to collect more Christmas goodies such as Christmas puddings, mince pies and crackers.

Volunteers will be back at the stores on Friday and Saturday to collect tinned goods, toiletries and dried foods which will help the foodbank's Christmas Appeal when they are expected to see a surge in referrals.

It follows a record-breaking collection during harvest which saw the foodbank needing to hire an extra warehouse to cope with generosity of schools, churches and businesses.

Last Christmas, shoppers donated more than five tonnes of food to the charity.

As well as Christmas goodies, the most wanted items include tinned sponge pudding, custard, jars of coffee, UHT milk, dried milk and packet or boxes of mash potato.

Toiletries including shampoo, shower gel, toilet rolls, deodorant, shaving gel, toothpaste, small packs of washing powder as well as strong plastic bags or shopping bags on wheels and rucksacks to carry food.