CALDICOT Foodbank will be able to buy a much-needed freezer thanks to a donation from a local supermarket.

The freezer will allow the Foodbank – which has helped feed 315 people, including 75 children since it opened last May – to store items such as bread.

The Foodbank was presented with a cheque for £450 from the Community Matters fund at the Caldicot branch of Waitrose.

Shoppers are given tokens when they pay for their goods to vote for one of three local good causes each month.

David Flint, from the Foodbank said: "We are grateful for this donation from Waitrose whose on-going support has been essential to the Foodbank.

"As well as allowing us to collect items in the store, Waitrose were very helpful when we set up with advice on how to store items."

There is a particular need at the moment for items such as toilet rolls, long-life milk and tinned spaghetti.

The Foodbank has distributed 157 parcels of food with a total value of £5,000 to people in crisis.

Peter Strong, of Caldicot Foodbank, said: "The money will help us buy a freezer so we can can store items such as bread for longer.

"The people of Caldicot have been very supportive of what we are doing.

"Many people who come to the Foodbank are facing the choice between heating and eating."

The Caldicot Foodbank is run in partnership with the Raven House Trust in Newport. The three other Foodbanks in Monmouthshire, at Chepstow, Monmouth and Abergavenny are run with the support of the nationwide Trussel Trust.

Among those receiving a cheque on behalf of the Foodbank was volunteer Alex Evans who is studying public and emergency services at Coleg Gwent in Pontypool.

He said: "I wanted to do something in the community and volunteering with the Foodbank fits in with my course."

Maxine Mitchell, Community Matters champion at Waitrose, Caldicot said: "We have worked closely with Caldicot Foodbank and I'm delighted that we have been able to make this donation."