CUSTOMERS of a Leominster bank helped donate food items to some of the town's most needy.

The Santander bank held a collection point for people to made a donation to Leominster's community larder which was set up five years ago to help those in acute need.

Several bags worth of non-perishables were taken to the larder's collection point at the Forbury.

Paul Scott, Chairman of Churches Together in Leominster which coordinates the larder, said: "When we started [five years ago] we thought we would be out of business within one year or so. It was launched at a time when people were thinking about larders and it was the early days for them and we had no idea how much interest there would be and how much need there was."

People are given vouchers to use the larder which come from agencies including social services and Age Concern.

Vouchers can also be obtained from the Forbury where people are assessed and helped if they are in need.

Mr Scott said: "The demand hasn't changed all that much over time but the nature of it has changed. When we first started, we used to have quite a lot of people who were seasonal workers who used the facilities, quite reasonably, and so that produced quite a bit of uplift but we didn't have so much from the community.

"Then one of the biggest changes was that, when people were in receipt of benefits, if they missed a certain appointment they would be sanctioned and not get their benefits for several weeks.

"So the only place they could go was to come to us but the process of sanctioning has changed and now we get very few people in that situation.

"We are getting more families with young children who come to us so it is a change in the social perspective of those who are coming.

"We open twice a week and one week we'll be snowed under and the next we'll have very few people in and it's just totally unpredictable but we still have a reason to continue and will be doing so for as long as we see a need and as long as people are willing to support us."

The main categories of food collected are soups, tinned meat and fish, bulk carbohydrates such as pasta, rice and tinned potatoes, tinned vegetables, and puddings. Tea, coffee and basic toiletries are also welcomed.

Donations can be made at the Forbury, Leominster Community Centre and at a collection point in the town's Co-op.