A SUPERMARKET is inviting its customers to join its scheme of helping the homeless and Darlington residents in need of support.

Shoppers at Sainsbury’s Victoria Road, in Darlington, can donate products throughout the year to support King's Church Food Bank, off Whessoe Road, at a dedicated food donation point located at the front of the store.

Products are collected by volunteers at the charity and redistributed in the borough.

Surplus bread and produce at Sainsbury's are also donated to the Darlington Baptist Church, off Grange Road, that has an emergency food store and supplies for the homeless.

Sainsbury's has started the new year by setting up it's 1,000th donation point across its stores.

Ian Wassall, store manager at Sainsbury’s Darlington, said: “We’re thrilled to have reached such an impressive milestone in our food donation programme.

"Our customers are very generous all year round and as we enter 2018, we hope to see even more food donated to help people in the local community who may be at risk of going hungry.”

A variety of products including pasta, tinned goods and cereals can be donated in-store, alongside toiletries, sanitary items, nappies anything not perishable.

Caroline Todd, from the King's Church Food Bank, said: “We’re delighted to be receiving so many donations from the generous customers and colleagues at Sainsbury’s Victoria Road Darlington who have helped to raise awareness of our cause.

"These items really will benefit local people suffering from food poverty. We’re looking forward to working with the store into 2018.”