MORE than £1,500 has been raised to help feed needy families across the Tendring district this Christmas.

A food drive was held in Clacton on Friday in an effort to restock the district’s dwindling food banks in the run-up to Christmas.

The all-day event at Sainsbury’s raised more than £1,500 – enough to help feed 150 families.

The food will be distributed to food banks across Tendring, including in Clacton, Walton, Harwich and Manningtree.

Diane Boyd, of Tendring Citizens Advice Bureau, said it was a wonderful effort by the community. “We are very fortunate in Tendring to have a great community spirit and that was shown again,” she said.

“It really was a big team effort and a huge success, which will be a massive boost for dwindling food banks across the district.”

A “shopping list” of tinned and long-life food was put up in Sainsbury’s to show people what they could donate.

Tendring Council spokeswoman Lynda McWilliams said: “We hoped that we would be able to beat the £1,200 we raised in March but, with people’s help, we smashed it.

“The amount of money raised will help 150 families to have a better festive period than they otherwise would have done, so a big thank-you from everyone who took part and supported this initiative.”

The drive was put on by Tendring Council, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Sainsbury’s and the fire brigade, with volunteers from CVS Tendring and support from the Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette.