An estate agents has joined forces with a foodbank charity to help provide a greater service for those in need.

Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, who have been serving the north London community for 57 years, have partnered with Food Bank Aid.

Every one of Martyn Gerrard's 12 branches will now become drop off points for donations to be distributed to 18 food banks across north London.

Anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to bring along whatever they can manage, although most in demand at present is tinned food, long lasting fruit and veg, rice, noodles, tea, coffee, cooking oils and toiletries, amongst other items.

To donate simply head over to your local Martyn Gerrard office and speak to the team there who will direct you to their designated drop off box. Martyn Gerrard branches stretch across north London, from Whetstone, through Finchley and Crouch End, to Kentish Town – you can find your local branch for donations here: https://www.martyngerrard.co.uk/branches

Managing director Simon Gerrard, who raised more than £40,000 for Noah's Ark Children's Hospice last year with a marathon length walk, said: "I have been supporting the Hornsey Food Bank throughout lockdown and am absolutely delighted to open up our local branches to support our wider community and become a hub for the vital service that Food Bank Aid undertake across our areas.

"After such a tough year for so many, they are providing an incredible lifeline across the areas Martyn Gerrard serves. They are in desperate need of donations and we’d like to encourage all those within the Martyn Gerrard Estate Agent community to come down and donate as much or as little as they’re able.

"Especially in current times, I believe it is incredibly important for all businesses to look to their communities and see what can be done to offer support to those who need it. As a family run estate agents who have been embedded in the North London community for over 50 years, we see directly how much organisations like Food Bank Aid offer to those who need their help."

Food Bank Aid was set up in April 2020 to support food banks in North London experiencing up to a ten-fold surge in demand as a result of the Covid crisis. The charity makes over 35 bespoke deliveries per week and between them the food banks supported by Food Bank Aid help around 12,000 people in need per week.

Jo Rosenblatt, Trustee at Food Bank Aid, added: "We are so grateful to Simon and the whole Martyn Gerrard team for offering up their local community branches to act as donation points for Food Bank Aid.

"We can’t do what we do without the support of people across the community and this will be vital in allowing us to gather even more desperately needed donations for those looking for a helping hand to get through difficult times."