Shoppers in the borough have donated thousands of meals to food bank charities in the run up to Christmas.

A tonne of canned, dried and long-life food has been donated at Tesco stores across Merton as part of the Tesco Neighbourhood Food Collection, now in its fifth year.

The company has pledged to ‘top up’ all donations by 30 per cent, with all proceeds going to food bank charity The Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity Fareshare.

David McAuley, Trussell Trust CEO said: "It is truly humbling to see so many Londoners have donated to help those in their communities, and it really does make a difference.

"Last Christmas over 12,000 Londoners, including more than 5,000 children, received three days’ food from Trussell Trust food banks in December alone.

"This year that number is likely to rise."

The nationwide initiative helps to provide vital support for some of the community’s most vulnerable people, supplying hot meals and food parcels to those most in need.

The collection, which took place over six days earlier this month, raised a total of 268, 868 meals in London.