AN AWARD-winning charity has been given £2,000 to help more veterans with health conditions back into work thanks to support from shoppers in Hook.

Customers gave their backing to The Poppy Factory by voting in the Bags of Help scheme in Tesco stores.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch the funding project, with grants raised from carrier bag sales at the shop in Station Road, Hook, as well as in Heath End Road, Baughurst.

Shoppers placed their votes in January and February using tokens given at the check-out.

Each year, the charity supports around 300 former ex-forces members back to work.

Deirdre Mills, chief executive of The Poppy Factory, said: “We are so grateful to everyone in Hook who showed their support for our wounded, injured and sick veterans by using their tokens to vote for The Poppy Factory in the Bags of Help scheme.”