COPPERS have handed over boxes stuffed with food to some of Swindon’s poorest.

Police from around the county have spent the weeks leading up to Christmas collecting for Foodbanks across Wiltshire.

This week, officers gave the food to the foodbanks in national charity the Trussell Trust’s foodbank network.

Mike Veale, chief constable of Wiltshire Police, visited Devizes foodbank with Inspector Liz Coles and police staff member Clair Cross on Thursday.

Wiltshire’s top cop said: “The Trussell Trust help thousands of people across the UK every year and with one in five people living in poverty this is a massive task to undertake.

“There are many reasons that people might find themselves in crisis and the Trussell Trust do magnificent work locally to help people in their time of need.

“This small act of kindness could really help individuals or families in need. We are delighted that we were able to assist."

He added: “My thanks go to all the wonderful people who donated across the force I was really overwhelmed by their fantastic efforts.”

Foodbanks across the country say that this could be their busiest Christmas on record. In Swindon, foodbank managers expect to finish the year having fed 5,000 people.

Cher Smith, manager of Swindon Foodbank, said that they often feed more hungry children over the festive period. “Coming up towards Christmas, there will be more families approaching us,” she said.

Mark Ward, interim chief executive of foodbank charity the Trussell Trust, added: “Every year we see a spike in demand at Christmas, but this year foodbanks are expecting their busiest Christmas ever.”

This year, the Adver is encouraging shoppers to buy a little extra this Christmas.

Swindon Foodbank, which last year handed out 47 tonnes of food, is urgently calling for donations of biscuits

Manager Cher Smith thanked everyone who has already donated to the foodbank this Christmas: “I want to say a huge thank you to Swindon. Once again they’ve been phenomenal.”

You can donate food, toiletries and other Christmas goodies by leaving them at the Swindon Advertiser’s Victoria Road office or at any of the donation points at larger supermarkets.

This weekend, Adver reporter Tom Seaward will be living on Swindon Foodbank rations.

The three-day rations list – designed for a single person – would cost around £17 if bought new from the supermarket.

It is made up of staples, like rice and tinned vegetables – as well as more luxury items like tinned pudding.

Cher’s advice to those handed the box is to combine different ingredients in the box to make meals that can go further. So, tinned potatoes, spam and baked beans becomes a pie.

“It’s about eking it out,” she said.

To get support from Swindon Foodbank, call 01793 686510 or visit swindon.foodbank.org.uk.