Big-hearted supermarket shoppers donated thousands of Christmas meals to charity.

Customers at the Maldon branch of Tesco donated around 3,000 meals to food charities Fareshare and the Trussell Trust during its food collection.

The supermarket asked the community to donate long-life food to help people those in need as part of their usual shop.

Both charities say the need for donations during the festive period is greater than any other time of year.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “Our foodbank network has spent the last month making sure that people referred to them with no money for food don’t go hungry this Christmas.

“This work has been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Tesco customers, store colleagues and volunteers during the food collection.

“Thank you for your support - your generosity has stopped hunger this Christmas.”

The food that was donated by shoppers in Maldon will go into emergency food parcels given to people referred to the charities 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.

FareShare boss Lindsay Boswell thanked Tesco customers for their generosity.