TESCO Express customers in Largs can make a huge difference to the lives of people facing hunger and hardship by donating long-life items this week.

The store in Aitken Street is taking part in the 12th annual Tesco winter food collection, with donated items going directly to the charities Trussell and FareShare.

Both charities expect to see extremely high demand for their services this winter, and the food collection provides vital extra donations.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “Our partners tell us they’ve seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we’re encouraging Largs customers to donate whatever they can.

"With frontline charities and foodbanks facing exceptionally high demand this year, pre-packed donation bags make it easy to make a big difference to someone else’s Christmas.

“We’ve boosted our ongoing support to FareShare and Trussell with a donation of £500,000 each this year to help them meet additional demand through the summer and winter holiday periods when family finances are facing the most strain.”

Trussell research shows that almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship – making them the age group most at risk – while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are facing hunger and hardship.

Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, runs in Express stores from  November 25-30.

According to FareShare and Trussell the most needed items are UHT & powered milk, tinned meat and fish, and sponge/rice pudding.