MIMS Davies, Eastleigh MP and Minister for Civil Society, which covers charities, has visited her local Tesco Metro store to support the biggest food collection for people in need this Christmas.

This weekend more than 2,600 Tesco stores across the UK have taken part in the annual Tesco Food Collection, which encourages shoppers to donate long-life foods to help charities FareShare and The Trussell Trust help people who might go hungry.

The food donated to foodbanks is given in emergency food parcels to people referred to them because they cannot afford to feed themselves and their families. Food donated to FareShare is distributed to charities and community groups who use it to provide meals for vulnerable groups such as isolated older people and those in homeless shelters.

It is the 11th collection to have taken place, and Tesco is topping up the value of the food donated by the public by 20%.

Mims visited the local Tesco Metro store at the Swan Centre in Eastleigh to meet volunteers on the collection point.

She said: “It’s always important to think of people who are in need at this time of year and it was great to see the generosity of so many local people donating to help others in the community who are in need. ”

Tesco UK chief executive Jason Tarry said: “Tesco Food Collection scheme is the UK’s biggest Christmas food collection, and at Tesco we are glad to be playing our part in helping people in need this Christmas. We know that the items that our customers donate can make a real difference to people who really need that little bit of extra help this year.”

Emma Revie, chief executive at The Trussell Trust said: “Foodbanks will be doing all they can to provide the best possible emergency support so people don’t go hungry - but to make sure we’re prepared for what could be our busiest December yet, our network needs your support.”