SHOPPERS in Worcestershire have been urged to support charities to provide food for 1.2 million people in the UK this winter.

Generous shoppers across the county are being asked to donate to the UK’s biggest food drive this weekend as charities warn of the increasing need for food.

The tenth annual Tesco Food Collection, which takes place in every Tesco store from December 1 to 3, is returning for 2022.

That includes Worcester's stores in St Peter's and in Warndon Villages.

The event comes as the Trussell Trust and FareShare charities announce they are expecting to provide food to 1.2 million people in the UK this winter.

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During the collection, shoppers are encouraged to donate long-life food items at their local Tesco store.

The donations will support food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network to provide emergency parcels to people in crisis and help FareShare supplement fresh food donations to thousands of frontline charities.

The items most needed by local food banks and charities will be highlighted in store, and shoppers at large stores will also be able to pick up pre-filled donation bags containing items that food banks and local charities have chosen.

During the collection, Tesco customers can also round up their bill at the till to make a small donation to the charities or donate Clubcard vouchers online, with Tesco matching their value.

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Ken Murphy, Tesco CEO, said: “Our customers have been incredibly generous during our decade-long partnership with the charities and have helped to donate more than 100 million meals worth of food to date.

“This is going to be a difficult winter for food banks and charities and every can, packet or jar our customers donate to this weekend’s Tesco Food Collection will make a difference.

"We will top up all those donations with 20 per cent in cash to support the charities.”

Simone Connolly, Director at FareShare Midlands, said: “This event is crucial in helping to collect long-life food and we are immensely grateful to Tesco for their continued support which will help us to continue getting food where it is most needed.

“Now, at a time when food banks in Worcestershire are facing a tsunami of need created by the soaring cost of living, the support of Tesco and their customers is appreciated now more than ever before.

"We encourage anyone who is in a position to make a donation to visit a Tesco store across Worcestershire and take part in the Winter Collection, you’ll be helping keep food banks open this winter.”