THE Sainsbury’s Chippenham store welcomed a visit from MP Michelle Donelan as the company continues to donate surplus food to good causes.

The store donates food that is still healthy, nutritious and within its use-by dates to a number of places, with its longest Food Donation Partnership being with Lackham Agricultural College who receive fruit and vegetables daily for their animals.

Corsham Churches Food Bank has become the latest to receive food in partnership with the store which is donated by customers, and Chippenham charity Doorway will also benefit from unsold surplus food.

Sainsbury’s Chippenham not only donates food but even the flowers are donated to Seymour House care home situated in Monkton Park, Chippenham.

Miss Donelan, MP for Chippenham, said: “I am delighted to see our supermarket sector taking environmental and community responsibility so seriously.

“It is wonderful to hear that Sainsbury's Chippenham food waste is sent to Lackham College for the animals and that even leftover flowers are sent to Seymour House.

“It is great that they are also facilitating local giving to Corsham Food Bank.”

Chippenham store manager Val Atwill said: “We hate wasting food and really believe that old saying ‘waste not; want not’.

“We are really happy that local charities, within our community, can benefit from our food donations scheme.

“There are hundreds of hungry mouths to feed in your local community and by donating food to charities and organisations we are saving thousands of tonnes of food needlessly going to landfill.”