COUNTY councillors and the members of staff have donated over 600 kilogrammes of food to Durham Food Bank.

Collected recently, the foodbank donations provided 758 meals for those in need across County Durham and gave people practical support at a difficult time of year.

Councillor Jane Brown, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for social inclusion, said: “Hundreds of boxes packed with treats were donated to Durham Food Bank by our generous colleagues.

“We want to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry, and we’re very pleased to hear that we provided hundreds of meals for food bank users throughout County Durham.

“We also donated £41.34, which the food bank can use to purchase provisions during the coming months.”

As well as donating to Durham Food Bank, council staff took part in mass fundraising activities throughout last year, raising thousands of pounds in cash and donations for charities.

In July, council officers and members wore their football shirts to work in order to raise £3,995 in aid of the Bradley Lowery Foundation.

The foundation was set up in memory of Bradley Lowery, a County Durham youngster who lost his battle with Neuroblastoma.

The council also raised £813.00 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) by wearing their Christmas jumpers to work and donated 75 bags of unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, belts and other items.