KIND-hearted youngsters from Redditch have collected more than 850 items for the Redditch Foodbank.

Scouts from 11th Redditch Kestrel and Eagle Scouts, based in Feckenham Road in Headless Cross, spent two evenings collecting items from Headless Cross residents to help stock the foodbank.

This was an idea from Jake Ingleby, a Redditch explorer scout, who is training as a young leader with the group.

Over two evenings more than 850 items were collected.

Laura Kyte, from Redditch Foodbank, called the donation "amazing".

Earlier this year the Advertiser reported that more than 530 children in Redditch have been forced to go to local foodbanks in the last year alone.

Changes to benefits and the roll out of controversial benefits system universal credit has placed huge demands on Redditch foodbank, said the project managers.

The foodbank currently operates out of St Stephen’s Church in the town centre and The Link in Winyates.

From April 1 2017 until March 31 2018, 1,613 people were fed in Redditch, of which 403 were children.

Staff from the foodbank said the stats "easily surpassed" last year’s figures, with 1,966 people receiving food from the foodbank, of which 530 were children.

At the time Laura said that foodbanks across the country are suffering and Redditch is no exception.

"Although there has been a dramatic rise in need, we have also seen the generosity of local schools, businesses and churches move to respond to these challenging times," she said.

Acts of Kindness is a charity set up by people of Redditch, for the people of Redditch.

It is made up of various representatives from different churches in the area and since 2011 has been helping residents with food parcels and clothes.

In 2013, the charity partnered with national organisation, The Trussell Trust, to establish Redditch Foodbank, which has been running ever since.

A year later, Acts of Kindness became a fully registered charity in itself, overseeing the foodbank and an annual Christmas project as its major priorities for community outreach.

For more on the foodbank, go to redditch.foodbank.org.uk.