GENEROUS customers of Tesco in County Durham donated about 30,000 meals across four stores during a three-day collection this month.

County Durham foodbank will use the food donated as part of the superstores sixth Neighbourhood Food Collection to create emergency food parcels containing three days’ supply of nutritionally-balanced for people in crisis - with Tesco adding an extra 30 per cent to all customer donations.

Between April 1 2014 and March 31 this year, 14,675 people were provided with three days’ emergency food by County Durham Foodbank.

There has also been a significant increase in the amount of food customers are donating at Tesco's in-store permanent collection points.

In County Durham, 14,130 meals have been donated already in 2015 through the in-store permanent collection points in Durham and Newton Aycliffe. These donations are counted separately from donations on dedicated collection days.

Since The Neighbourhood Food Collection began in December 2012 the total number of meals donated to people in need nationally stands at 27.5 million. The total figure for 2015 alone is over 6 million.

Tesco group communications director Rebecca Shelley said: "It’s inspiring that our customers are so generous and give so much to help people in food poverty.”

County Durham foodbank director Peter MacLellan said: “The donations in this year’s summer Neighbourhood Food Collection will make a huge difference to the foodbank’s ability to provide emergency food to people in need.

“We especially appreciate all the donations at this time of additional pressure on families during the summer school holiday months.”