WASTE recycling firm Warrens Group trekked part of Hadrian's Wall to raise awareness of the issues around food poverty and children’s health.

Members of the Newton Aycliffe team joined more than 80 walkers for a 19-mile walk along the wall in Northumberland to raise cash for The Greggs Foundation's Breakfast Club Programme.

The family business, which is headed up by brothers and directors Adam and Antony Warren, has worked with Greggs for more than 14 years and supported initiatives such as breakfast clubs and a Hardship Fund Programme.

Alongside sponsorship, Warrens supports St Andrew’s Primary School in Bishop Auckland and Marchbank Free School in Darlington, to forge relationships with the staff and help families fund new school uniforms and footwear.

Warrens Group helps businesses reduce the amount of food waste they send to landfill and incineration across the region by turning it into ‘good’ energy for local communities.

Adam Warren said: “Collecting food waste on a daily basis, we see the volume of food that is wasted and would otherwise go to landfill or incineration and it’s our goal to work towards reducing that volume. We have all read stories in the media about children going to school hungry because families can’t afford to feed them and it’s an issue that’s really close to our hearts so it’s great that through the Greggs breakfast clubs we can do our bit to support those in need.

“Our work with the Greggs Foundation is an extension of what we do every day as a business. We are committed to giving back to the community and the breakfast clubs are a fantastic way to ensure children get the nutrition they need to aid their concentration and fuel their imaginations for the day ahead.”

Lynne Hindmarch, breakfast club manager at Greggs Foundation, said: “Greggs Foundation is delighted to partner with Warrens to support the children at St Andrew's and Marchbank.

“The Greggs Foundation has supported breakfast clubs for 20 years as we believe every child deserves the best start to their day and by working collaboratively with business partners such as Warrens, we are able to support more pupils at breakfast time. In addition, Warrens support the schools with grants for school uniforms enriching the partnership experience.”

Warrens also raised about £2,000 with a nine-mile walk along Cleveland Way to raise money for mental health charity, the Samaritans. Three generations of the Warren family took part, with Adam being joined by his daughter Isabel, 11, and father John.