FOOD destined for the skip will be served up to customers as a restaurant with a conscience pops up in Darlington.

Ingredients that would otherwise be destined for landfill will form the basis of three course meals for diners at the Cast Off Kitchen.

Darlington Quakers are inviting foodies to get involved in an unusual venture while raising money for a good cause on Monday, May 1.

The Cast Off Kitchen event has been organised in a bid to highlight the problem of food waste while also supporting the King’s Church foodbank.

There will be no opportunity to scan the menu in advance before the restaurant pops up at the Friends Meeting House.

Instead, meals for the evening will be decided upon based on the donations received that day from local shops and businesses which are committed to reducing the amount of food they throw away.

Organisers claim shops and supermarkets are forced to dispose of edible food due to best before or display until dates, which do not mean that the food is no longer safe to eat.

Organiser Robyn Drummond said: “In 2015, 7.3m tonnes of food was thrown away in the UK, which is quite astonishing when you consider how many people live below the poverty line and have to turn to foodbanks for help.

“It also creates a substantial carbon footprint.

“Sustainability and economic justice are key Quaker principles so we’re using our event to highlight these issues and raise money for King’s Church Foodbank.”

At the upcoming event, trained cooks will use donated unsold produce to create a three course vegetarian meal.

Ms Drummond said: “The only snag is that we’ll be collecting food right up to the day of the event so even we won’t know what’s on the menu until the last minute.

“It will be a delicious culinary adventure.”

The venture, believed to be the first of its kind to be held in Darlington, has been greeted with excitement

The Cast Off Kitchen is Darlington Quakers’ third annual charity event and follows the success of a vintage tea room in 2015 and the Lit and Lattes literature and coffee festival last year.

The pop-up restaurant will make its appearance at the Friends Meeting House on Skinnergate from 7pm until 10pm on May Day.

Tickets for the event will be released on Monday, April 17 at 6.30pm..

To reserve a place or for more information on this event and others, visit facebook.com/darlingtonfriendsmeetinghouse or email info@darlingtonquakers.org.