AN “OVERWHELMING” response to a charity appeal by AWE resulted in nearly a ton of food being donated to local food banks.

The sheer volume of food donated by staff at AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield over the last few weeks meant that charity Trussell Trust, to which the food was donated, was unable to pick up the vast collection. Instead, AWE provided a truck to transport the heavy load.

The food was brought into work by staff, and was gathered at several collection points around both sites.

Daphne Snook, warehouse manager at Trussell Trust, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of AWE staff. The food will help the plight of all those who need the assistance from the food bank.

“It will go a long way to giving them the lovely Christmas dinner that the rest of us expect and take for granted.”

The food will now be sorted and made up into parcels, and handed out at distribution centres in Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford to those in need.

AWE’s community committee secretary Michele Maidment said: “This is one of the most successful appeals we have ever run. The response was extraordinary. This appeal obviously touched the heart of all those who work at AWE.”