Shoppers at a Huddersfield supermarket can now help needy families as they wheel their trolleys through the door.

Asda has joined forces with the Welcome Centre to set up a permanent collection point in the foyer at the Brackenhall store for people to donate tinned and dried foods and household goods which can be distributed to people in need.

Emma Greenough and John Brennan, of The Welcome Centre, were at the store to launch the new service and hand out hundreds of leaflets explaining how people can help support its food bank.

The initiative follows talks with store manager Louis McMurrough and community champion Anne Hodkin.

Emma said: “The first day was supposed to be about raising awareness of the new collection point, but the bin was a third full by the time we’d finished.

“Having the collection point is a lot more productive for us than having a stand because we don’t need a volunteer at the store all the time.

“Asda is the first supermarket to have agreed to do this. They have also agreed to give donations from the store when they can. We hope other supermarkets in the area will follow suit.”

Emma said the initiative had come at a crucial time for the food bank. “We are at a low point in terms of stock,” she said.

“Tinned and dried food in date are always needed, but children have broken up from school which means families struggling financially will have an extra meal to provide five days a week over the summer.”

As well as making donations at Asda, people can donate items at The Welcome Centre, Lord Street, Huddersfield, between 10.30am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays.