A 24-HOUR feast of fund-raising proved to be a recipe for success when employees at express delivery giant TNT served up donations worth thousands of pounds to feed and educate children in developing countries.

Tackling global hunger was high on the menu as employees at TNT Express Services at Hartlebury joined colleagues across the UK in donning exotic costumes and dishing up international cuisine to mark World Food Day and raise funds for the United Nations World Food Programme.

The Hartlebury Trading Estate depot staff raised £200 towards a £7,000 national total, enough to provide more than 200 children with food and an education during 2005 and keep the threat of malnutrition and starvation at bay.

Depot general manager, Adrian Avery, said: "We raised a tremendous amount of money for a worthwhile cause, while having a lot of fun in the process.

"Our people displayed a real appetite for helping others. They put a great deal of thought and preparation into the day, dressing up in some fantastic costumes and serving up some delicious international cuisine."

The event was part of a five-year partnership between the World Food Programme and TNT.