Generous donations from the public will mean that people in need over Christmas will be able to feed themselves.

Devizes Food Bank has been boosted by donations of food at shops in Devizes, the latest being at John Stuart Funeral Services in The Brittox and Halifax in Maryport Street.

At the Halifax customer service consultant Rachel Foster said the branch had received a large amount of food donations.

She said: “During the week before Christmas we had food covering two tables and in a large box. We have had people coming in with two or three carrier bags of food at a time and boxes of food have been left anonymously outside the branch. Customers think it’s a fantastic cause. They have been really supportive.”

Alan Beamish, manager of Devizes Food Bank, said: “The food collected at Halifax will feed at least a dozen families or 24 single people in the Devizes area. The same amount was collected at John Stuart’s.

"People are so generous, especially at this time of year. The demand increases at this time of year.”

The Food Bank has permanent collection points at Morrisons and Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Devizes and Morrisons itself has given the charity £100 of food for the Christmas period.

Mr Beamish also thanked Gaiger Brothers for letting the Food Bank have use of its building for free.

Meanwhile homeless people enjoyed a Christmas lunch yesterday at Devizes Opendoor’s centre in St John’s Parish Rooms, Devizes.

Vegetables grown in the garden at Rowdeford School, near Devizes, were donated for the lunch.

Year 7 students dug up, prepared and washed the vegetables before handing them over to Christopher Sloane of Opendoor.