A HAMPSHIRE charity has launched an annual food collection to help feed people in need this winter.

Southampton-based Fareshare, a food redistribution charity which tackles food waste and poverty by redistributing in-date items, is launching the scheme at Tesco stores between Monday, November 20, and Saturday, December 2.

As part of the campaign, which is in its tenth year, the charity is looking for volunteers to help encourage shoppers to donate one or two long-life items such as packets of pasta, rice, tea and tins of tomatoes.

The charity will then redistribute the food to homeless shelters, children’s breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs and women’s refuges.

Lindsey Boswell, FareShare’s chief executive, said: “By volunteering a few hours this Christmas, you could collect enough food donations to make 600 meals.

“And the donated food will make a tremendous difference to local charities doing amazing work with some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

“Last year we collected an incredible amount of food, but the need is only increasing and we want 2017 to be our biggest year ever.”

Tesco stores taking part in the event include Southampton city centre, Fareham, Gosport, Hythe, Whiteley, Winchester, Bursledon, Eastleigh, and Lymington.