"DAILY ECHO readers never fail to deliver the goods."

That is the message from delighted SCRATCH teams who are thrilled with the overwhelming response they have received from Southampton people willing to line the cupboards of the most needy in the city.

In the first ever Back to Basics Appeal - run by the Daily Echo on behalf of the charity to get people donating food at collection points around Southamp-ton - the target has been smashed.

Present stocks that have been fed into the charity's Basics Bank in Princes Street, North-am, over the past week are enough to feed about 1,500 people three meals a day for the next few months.

Paul Ozanne, of the Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship, said: "I am so thrilled and once again amazed by the sheer generosity of Daily Echo readers. They may never realise what a positive change they may make to a family that cannot afford to buy food."

With big companies such as Skandia Life and Ford getting involved - as well as individuals popping to their local supermarket or raiding their own cupboards to make a donation - the appeal has gripped the city.

Basics Bank manager Lynne Cooper said: "It's absolutely fantastic and so reassuring to see such a high level of stock."

Tins of meat, fruit, breakfast cereals and tea and coffee were the items most desperately needed at the appeal launch. Now they are an abundant supply that will make all the difference to poverty-stricken families.

The appeal has officially ended with volunteers totting up the final few donations over the weekend.

But the need for food is on-going.

Any donations can be taken to the Basics Bank in Princes Street, Northam, Dorcas at First Avenue, Millbrook or Fareshare at the City Park Industrial Estate.

To volunteer at any one of SCRATCH's community projects, call Paul Ozanne on 07711 446859 or the head office on 023 8077 3132.