Tower Hamlets’ supermaket shoppers have donated 8,608 meals to charity this Christmas.

Tesco’s Newham stores have been taking customer donations for food distribution charity FareShare and foodbank The Trussell Trust.

Shoppers were asked to give long-life items to be given to those who need it, with Tesco adding 20 per cent to all donations collected

Nationally Tesco shoppers have donated more than 49 million meals.

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare CEO, said: “The food donated will make a tremendous difference to the thousands of charities and community groups that FareShare supports.”

Samantha Stapley, operations manager at The Trussell Trust, said: “Our foodbank network has spent the last month making sure people referred to them with no money for food do not go hungry this Christmas.”

Both extended their thanks to Tower Hamlet’s Tesco shoppers.