A REDDITCH opticians donated more than 149 kilograms of emergency food supplies to people in crisis thanks to generous residents.

Specsavers in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre acted as a drop off point for non-perishable food items and toiletries before Easter, including dried pasta, rice, tins and jars of food, biscuits, soups and other long-life items.

The store offered a free sight test in return for donations.

Store director Sarah Wright said: "We have been so impressed by the generosity of our local community"

"We put a call out to residents of Redditch before Easter for donations and instantly we had customers popping in to drop off whatever they could manage - so a big thank you goes out to everyone who supported the foodbank drive.

"Sadly, more and more people seem to be relying on foodbanks, so it’s worth donating to them as regularly as possible. Most people have a few spare tins of food in their cupboards and it would mean a lot to someone in need."

The Redditch Foodbank provides three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

For more information or to make a donation, pop into the store at Unit 14, New Walk, call 01527 595558 or visit specsavers.co.uk/redditch.