MORE than 300 families attended Redditch's annual school uniform bank, which was set up nine years ago to help struggling families.

Thousands of new and used clothing items have been redistributed to families to help ease the financial burden of purchasing school uniform.

The event, hosted by the Redditch Labour party was held at the Ecumenical Centre in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.

Joseph Baker, who initiated the original project, said: “It was great to see the amount of support for the ninth uniform bank, it goes to show you the failure of government that there are families out there who can not afford school uniforms.

Redditch Advertiser: Redditch Labour party have held the school uniform bank for nine years. Redditch Labour party have held the school uniform bank for nine years.

"A massive thanks goes to everyone who helped make this possible.”

All items were donated within a six week period, with The Kingfisher Centre collecting 40 per cent of the items.

Kind hearted shoppers filled three cages of donations, whilst Omega Therapies and Inspire CIC collected a full van between them and several local schools also sent in donations from lost property.

Redditch Labour women’s officer Juliet Barker said: “It was such a pleasure to be able to help people today, to watch faces light up with relief, and to feel as if we were doing something worthwhile to support the people of our town.

"It felt like Labour was the beating heart of Redditch, helping to keep everybody going and I felt so proud to help.”

Left over items were sent to The Old Needle Works charity shop on Britten Street or will be donated to families in Tanzania.