COLLEGE students have launched a competition with staff to collect donations for a community foodbank.

The group of 11 Bishop Auckland College pupils came up with the idea as part of their National Citizen Service (NCS) course.

They are hoping their fellow students will collect 400 items and that it will be matched by the staff.

The food will then be donated to Woodhouse Close Community Church, on Woodhouse Close and the students will be on hand to organise and hand out the goods.

Student Jordan Parker said: “We were given the chance to work with the local foodbank and we want to give something back to people for Christmas. We are worried about the changes to benefits and we want to make sure people have enough to eat.”

Kevin Burns, of Bishop Auckland College, said: “We are strong supporters of the work the National Citizen Service does.

“This particular group have really come together to organise this and we are very proud of the work they are doing.”