FOOD Bank organisers say its Christmas Fayre last week revealed both the kindness of Ledbury people and the deep divisions in society.

The Food Bank, in St Katherine's Hall, received plenty of donations but also handed out food to 40 people.

Food Bank spokesman, Martin Ham said: "One amazingly cheerful lady, walking with the aid of a crutch, came in for food. Apologising for asking for food she said 'I will be alright when I get my benefits sorted out'.

"I asked her when she last got her benefit. 'The end of March' she said. Sadly, life for some is not a bowl of cherries."

Mr Ham praised "the wonderful generosity of the good people of Ledbury, who filled a host of tables till they could take no more, with gifts for those for whom life is a struggle, and their families".

He added: "The generosity of local people astonished the organisers – food, decorations, jigsaws, games in their hundreds, and all manner of intriguing objects whose use, if there was one, was a complete mystery. Looking at the main hall of St Katherine’s, if Santa had arrived he would have wondered how he could get it all on his sleigh. Dozens of people came, and solved their dilemmas about Christmas presents in five minutes flat."

Mr Ham said: "The smiles on the faces of those who chose presents for their children were to say the least heart-warming, and there were one or two scarcely concealed tears of joy.

"Upstairs in the food bank’s food store there was a very mixed sense of joy. Three generous locals came in with donations of £100, £100, and £150, which warmed the hearts of the volunteers who give out the food. Lots came in with food, and so the two essentials needed, food and money, meant that the food bank, going into 2109, has no problem with its resources."

But the Christmas joy was not the only emotion.

In the two hours it was open the food bank gave out food for 40 people.

And organisers will continue to hand out food throughout the Christmas period.

Ledbury food bank will be open as usual on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to noon over the Christmas season.

However, it will be closed on Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26.