A FOODBANK is asking the public for donations towards its harvest festival appeal.

Braintree Area Foodbank, run by the Trussell Trust, helps individuals and families in the district in times of crisis from centres in Halstead, Witham and Braintree.

Last year the foodbank distributed 29 tonnes of food to nearly 3,000 people, more than 1,000 of which were children.

For this year’s harvest festival appeal the foodbank is asking churches, schools, businesses and the general public to collect a shopping list of items for distribution to the district’s most needy.

There is a desperate need for donations of fruit juice, long-life milk, cereal bars, instant mash, coffee, tinned tomatoes and instant meals like Pot Noodles. Supplies are also running low of tinned snack meals like macaroni cheese, tinned fruit, custard, sponge puddings, sugar, chocolate treats and cold meats.

Donate at Braintree Baptist Church, on Wednesdays between 11am and 2pm, on Fridays at Witham Methodist Church, between 10 and noon, and on Fridays at Braintree's Christ Church Methodist URC, between 10am and 2pm.

Visit www.braintreearea.foodbank.org.uk.