ANDOVER Foodbank distributed around 1,000 Christmas packages for people over the festive season.

Volunteers delivered donations to help reduce the financial pressure of the holidays with the foodbank delivering a near 680 Christmas gift boxes for children and a further 320 food hampers for families and individuals to help them enjoy a festive meal.

Children’s gift boxes were given to care workers across agencies and schools including Children’s Services, the Andover Crisis and Support Centre, Mencap and Icknield School.

Andover Foodbank secretary Annie Mihell said: “We have been able through generosity to help an enormous amount of people.

“We have had some really good donations this year but we have needed them. It has been absolutely frantic.

“The foodbank would like to thank local companies, churches and individuals for their very generous financial, food and gift box donations and a special thanks to all the amazing foodbank volunteers who have ensured that so many people in and around Andover have been helped this Christmas.”

To find out more or donate to the charity visit https://andover.foodbank.org.uk.